Hundreds of connoisseurs, casual tasters and weekenders looking for a little fun will take to local streets from 3-7 p.m. Saturday for the annual Sip & Stroll, an event organized by the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s tour will feature 21 alcohol vendors — 10 wineries, six distillers, three breweries and two ciderhouses.
Beyond those who like to do a little sampling, the event is also being promoted as having something for everybody of all ages. Nikki Hasley, who is in her first year as the chamber of commerce’s board president, wants to see Sip and Stroll grow beyond any perceptions that it’s an adults-only activity.
“We want to make this a family event,” Hasley said. “It’s a whole afternoon and evening in downtown Philomath … That’s what makes me excited the most — that it’s not just drinking.”
Frequent visitors to past Sip and Stroll events may notice the presence of more food options this year. Seven different vendors — five food trucks along with baked goods and snow cones — are scheduled to participate.
“We’re looking forward to bringing in a few extra food vendors,” Hasley said. “Not everybody wants to have a sip — maybe they are here with their families enjoying downtown Philomath and now they can have something fun to eat, too.”
Several of the businesses and organizations that serve as host sites also offer light hors d’oeuvres and snacks.
“We don’t want to take away from that experience but just to have options because for some it may be a late lunch or dinner,” Hasley said.
Sip and Stroll serves as the top fundraiser of the year for the Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce. Last year, attendance through ticket sales was calculated at 501.
“I’m really excited about this year,” said Hasley, a third-year chamber member who will be experiencing her second Sip and Stroll. “As with any event, you learn something new or something to improve so I think we’ve done a really great job at learning from little tweaks from last year.”
On-site ticket sales begin at 2:30 p.m. — a half-hour before the tasting gets started — and are available until 6 p.m. at two locations. On the east end, folks can buy tickets at Marys Peak True Value (1732 Main St.) and toward the west end at Les Schwab Tire Center (838 Main St.).
Tickets can be purchased in advance online (through 5 p.m. Friday). Those tickets can be redeemed at the True Value site.
Two tasting packages are available — $20 for those who want a wine glass and $30 for those who want a tumbler. Participants also receive a wristband that proves age verification and 10 tasting tokens for those who buy in advance or five tasting tokens for those who buy on site.
On the route, participants can purchase additional drink tokens (five for $5). There will also be a raffle of gift baskets filled with various items.
The chamber will have a booth set up at Citizens Bank (1224 Main St.) where participants can get drinking water, buy extra drink tokens or buy raffle tickets.
Thanks to a sponsorship through Starker Forests, a free shuttle will be available for those to get around. The shuttle will run on a loop for the duration of the event.
“It’s just a beautiful service and I think that adds the extra touch that puts us a little above the Eugene and the Corvallis (events) to be honest,” Hasley said about the shuttle. “I think that helps just really seal the deal on this.”
Locations where people can hop on or off include Marys Peak True Value, Dirt Road Brewery, Les Schwab Tire and Philomath Community Library.
Alcohol vendors include the following:
- Wine — Airlie Winery, Anam Cara Cellars, Benton-Lane Winery, Bluebird Hill Cellars, Cardwell Hill Cellars, Compton Family Wines, Darque Wines, Gelardi Vineyard, Valcan Cellars, Wetzel Estate Wines
- Spirits — 4 Spirits Distillery, Divine Distillers, Hideaway Distillery, Marcotte Distilling, Stillwagon Distillery, Vivacity Spirits
- Beer — Calapooia Brewing, Dirt Road Brewery, Long Timber Brewing
- Cider — 2 Towns Ciderhouse, WildCraft Cider Works
Food vendors scheduled to be on site include:
- C&J BBQ Co.
- Chilango Mexican Street Food
- Isabel’s Sweet Bites
- Jason’s Tropical Sno
- Nick’s: Soul Food
- Smok’n Gingers BBQ
- Suzy’s Taqueria