After a successful event last fall, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership has announced the return of the Holiday Wine Walk, scheduled for Nov. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will guide attendees on a tasting tour throughout 21 downtown venues. “We were thrilled to have such a successful first Holiday Wine Walk and are excited to continue the event for 2018,” Lindsey Payne Johnstone, Events Director for the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, said. “Feedback from last year’s event was overwhelmingly positive and we want to make this a new tradition for the community.” After three successful years of hosting the spring Wine Walk, the holiday version was created in 2017 to drive action downtown during a traditionally quiet period, while also supporting downtown retailers with pre-holiday shopping. The event sold out in advance and brought a vibrant crowd to Downtown in 2017, resulting in it’s return for the current year. “This event brought so many people downtown who were excited to check out our businesses during the holidays, Payne Johnstone, DBP Events Director, said. “That’s a great thing for our city center and we’re excited to support businesses while giving attendees another opportunity to have a blast.” Both the venues and the wineries will be a mix of returning and new for the 2018 Holiday Wine Walk, giving attendees an opportunity to revisit favorite venues from past events while also experiencing new participants. The 2018 Holiday Wine Walk is sponsored by the Community Food Co-Op. Support from the organization’s title sponsor was key to bringing the event back for a second year, Payne Johnstone said. As part of their sponsorship, the Community Food Co-Op will be raffling off a special gift package to Wine Walk attendees. Details of the raffle will be available on the Holiday Wine Walk Facebook Event page. Tickets are $30 for general and $45 for VIP, and include 12 tasting tickets, a commemorative tasting cup, an event guide, and a tote bag containing special offerings. The VIP ticket option includes everything the general ticket provides, plus three extra tasting tickets, fast-track line access for quick ticket pick-up and a selection of snacks to enjoy at the event. The past four Wine Walk events have sold out early, Payne Johnstone said, and the organization encourages anyone interested in the event to buy their tickets as soon as possible. The 2018 Holiday Wine Walk participating businesses are:
