Tickets are on sale now for Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro’s Fifth Annual Shine to Wine Festival to be held in North Wilkesboro on Tenth Street, between Main and D Streets, on Saturday, May 2 from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.

General admission to the festival, featuring a number of wineries from Surry County and the surrounding region, is free. Wine tastings are $15 in advance.

This year's event will feature 15 area wineries. They are Banner Elk Winery, Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge, Cerminaro Vineyard, Chateau Laurinda Vineyards, Ginger Creek Vineyards, Lake James Cellar Winery, McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks, Native Vines Winery, Raffaldini Vineyards, Rocky River Vineyards, Round Peak Vineyards, Southern Charm Winery, Thistle Meadow Winery, Uwharrie Vineyards, and Weathervane Winery.

Festival goers can purchase tasting tickets that will allow them to sample wines from each of the vineyards and wineries. Ticket holders will also receive a souvenir Shine to Wine wine glass. Advance tickets can be purchased at HDTNW at 211 Ninth Street, North Wilkesboro; Ivy Ridge Traditions at 813 Main Street, North Wilkesboro; Key City Grille at 211 10th Street, North Wilkesboro; Applewood Bistro at 3600 W NC Hwy 268, Wilkesboro; Holiday Inn Express at 1700 Winkler Street, Wilkesboro; and The Vintage Home at 107 West Main Street, Wilkesboro; and online at www.DowntownNorthWilkesboro.com. At the gate, the ticket price is $20.

Along with showcasing North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County and the burgeoning wine industry in the area, this year’s event will feature the Second Annual Culinary Chef Challenge, where regional chefs representing surrounding restaurants will compete for the title of Best Chef, Most Creative and People’s Choice. These chefs will display their cooking and presentation talents for a jury of judges and critics.

There will also be free musical performances throughout the entire festival by the Shu Band and Matt Bizzell and the Red Belly Dance! These bands are sponsored in part by Grassroots funding from the NC Arts Council, a state agency through the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes, the local arts council. The Shu Band creates a unique blend of music by moving across genres. Matt Bizzell and the RedBelly Dance are back by popular demand.

Local and regional artists will display and sell their arts and crafts during this year’s festival. Merchandise will include arts, crafts, clothing, wine racks, food and more. Anyone interested in being an arts/crafts vendor or food vendor should call 336-667-4875. The deadline to apply is March 31.

Sponsors for this year’s event are Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Brame Huie Pharmacy, Midtown Plaza Shopping Center, TW Stamper Construction, and GoWilkes.com.

For more information,the Web site www.DowntownNorthWilkesboro.com or call 336-667-4875.