April in Paris Wine Fest will start at the courthouse

Posted on Mar 11, 2013 in Upcoming Events by Jeff Parish

This year’s April in Paris Wine Fest will start at the Lamar County Courthouse

Lamar County commissioners approved the Paris Main Street Program’s use of the foyer during Monday’s Commissioners Court session. The vote passed 4-1, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Rodney Pollard voting against for “religious reasons.” 

Paris Main Street will decorate the foyer area – including a string quartet – where people will enter on the east side and exit on the south after picking up a “swag” bag.

“They’ll pick up their stuff and head downtown. There won’t be any wine here,” Main Street Coordinator Cheri Bedford said.

April in Paris Wine Fest gives an opportunity to sampling some of Texas’s top wines and food from local restaurants. Shoppers can also find gifts at participating retailers.

The event is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. April 12 in downtown Paris. In order to keep the event an intimate gathering, only 350 tickets will be sold. Tickets are $25 each, and are available online, or at the Paris Main Street Office, 150 SE 1st St.; Lamar County Chamber of Commerce, 8 W. Plaza; and Paris Baby, 120 S. Main.

Wine tasters must be at least 21 years old, and all wines must be consumed in the store where served.

Event proceeds help provide funding for the Paris Main Street Building Improvement Grant
program, a reimbursement grant to property owners for improvements to buildings in the Paris Downtown Historical District.

BIG funding is available on a 50-50 matching basis up to a maximum of $5,000 per grant. The grant may cover exterior appearance improvements such as facades, awnings and signs; safety or occupancy improvements such as asbestos abatement, plumbing, fire suppression systems and roof replacement or repair; mechanical or electrical work; and accessibility compliance.

Last year’s festival raised $6,500.

Participating wineries include Landon Winery, Paris Vineyards, Grayson Hills Winery, Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards and Winery, Kiepersol Enterprises, Red Road Winery, Homestead Winery, Crump Valley Vineyards and St. Rose Winery.

Participating restaurants include Bois d’Arc, Crawford’s Hole in the Wall, Time Flies, GirlsandCake, Cozy Cappuchino, Sweet D Confections, Paris Bakery, Brookshires Food and Pharmacy, Old Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast, That Guy’s Coffee and 24th Street Cafe.

Participating hosts include SOHO, Green Boutique, Paris Optical, Vital Beet, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Paris Baby, Spanglers, Paris Community Theatre, Paris Bridal and Formal, Collegiate Shoppe, Lillian Kelley’s, Two Rivers Antiques and That Guy’s Coffee.

For more information, contact the Main Street program office at 903-784-9293 or e-mail cbedford@paristexas.gov.