Wine and Food Fest hosts 'Rocky Mountain Rendezvous'

The Project Whitefish Wine and Food Fest is marking 30 years of raising funds to support children in the community with its annual wine tasting, food festival and auction.

This year’s event, themed the Rocky Mountain Rendezvous May Day Celebration, will be held at Grouse Mountain Lodge on Wednesday, May 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. The annual event raises much-needed funds to support kids in the community through sports and the performing arts. All proceeds from this benefit go to Project Whitefish Kids, the organization that maintains the Smith Fields Sports Complex for several sports teams, and the Whitefish Theatre Company.

The food includes a fine sampling of cuisines from local restaurants including Indah Sushi, The Grill at Grouse, Cypress Garden and Cartwright Catering, Loula’s At Night, Last Chair Kitchen & Bar, Fleur Bake Shop and Whitefish Lake Restaurant.

Fun Beverage will provide a wonderful selection of wines and introducing new varieties for the tasters to sample. Montana Coffee Traders will supply plenty of coffee for everyone and craft beer will be provided by the Great Northern Brewing Co.

A silent and live auction highlights the evening with lots of exciting items available this year. Auction items include original art, custom-made gourmet dinners, weekend getaways, sporting equipment, wine, restaurant gift certificates, cooking classes, health and pampering specials, Griz and Bobcat football tickets, theatre tickets, outdoor adventure events and more. Local businesses and individuals have donated all of these items.

As a special treat, John Dunnigan and David Walburn will be playing music during the evening and acting as the event’s emcees and auctioneers.

Seating is limited to 200. Tickets are $75 per person and include all food and beverages. An entire table for 10 can be purchased for $750 or sponsor a table for $300 that comes with two tickets. Sponsored tables are conveniently located near the auctioneer with the sponsor’s name or company’s name listed for all to see. Donations are also accepted toward this event.

Tickets can be purchased at the O’Shaughnessy Center Box Office and at the Whitefish and Columbia Falls branches of Park Side Credit Union. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 862-5371 or online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org.

Sponsors for Project Whitefish are Fun Beverage, Park Side Credit Union, Whitefish Theatre Company and Project Whitefish Kids.