2016 Safety Harbor Wine Festival: What You Need to Know

Good news, Hartborites: the biggest party of the year, the 2016 Safety Harbor Wine Festival, is almost here!

And with the forecast calling for cool and clear weather, the downtown district is sure to be overwhelmed with revelers on Saturday night.

The 15^th edition of the event continues the tradition of what began as a community fundraiser in 2002 with an attendance of around 2,000 people.

From there it quickly ballooned into a massive Main Street festival, complete with hundreds of brands of wines and more than 10,000 amateur and professional connoisseurs; at its height, Wine Fest attracted nearly 15,000 revelers and split more than $40,000 in revenue with area charities.

In recent years Wine Fest, along with much of the economy, fell on hard times; attendance figures and revenues dropped, and the city commission considered raising the prices of beer and wine tickets for the first time since the event’s inception.

Since then, however, the Wine Fest has bounced back in a big way.

In 2014, revenues from the event were reported at more than $34,000, and last year, the four beneficiaries equally split nearly $28,000 generated from the event.

According to reports, Wine Fest has contributed more than $375,000 to local charities since its inception in 2002.

But enough about charitable contributions—let’s get to what everyone is really here for: information about the 2016 Safety Harbor Wine Fest!

The festivities kick off at 5:00 in the evening, but the downtown district will be inaccessible by car long before that, with road closures scheduled for Main Street from Bayshore Boulevard to 8^th Avenue between 12:30 p.m. and midnight.

This year, Wine Fest will feature craft beers and champagne in addition to the large selection of “regular” and premium wines, plus there will be food & beverage and arts & craft vendors, multiple music stages, live entertainment and more.

“Beer & Wine will be $5 for one ticket,” Safety Harbor Special Events Director Joe Cooper told Safety Harbor Connect via email  “One tent near the Gazebo will have premium wines for $10 for two tickets. There will also be craft beers and Champagne available.”

“Tickets for beer and wine can be purchased with proper ID at one of 3 tents: one near 7^th Avenue, one Across from the Gazebo and one on 3^rd Avenue and Main Street.

Cooper also said the stage at the John Wilson Park Gazebo will feature jazz music, while another stage at the corner of 7^th Avenue and Main Street will host rock music.

As always, the businesses along Main Street will be open late, and don’t forget to stop by Safety Harbor Connect’s VIP red carpet photo booth at our new location next to Blake Real Estate (228 Main Street) and Nolan’s Pub!

Hope to see you at Wine Fest on Saturday night, Harborites! Enjoy and be safe!

If You Go: 

• What: 15^th Annual Safety Harbor Wine Festival
• When: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016 5-11 p.m.
• Where: Main Street, Downtown Safety Harbor
• Details: The Safety Harbor Wine Festival attracts thousands of visitors to Main Street to sample hundreds of brands of premium and regular wines. This year, craft beer and champagne will be available for sale, plus there will be plenty of food and drinks, arts and crafts and other activities. Featuring jazz music at the John Wilson Park Gazebo stage, and rock at the intersection of Main Street and 7th Avenue. Most of the bars, restaurants and retail shops in the downtown district will be open late, as well. And don’t forget to visit the Safety Harbor Connect red carpet VIP photo booth, located at 531 Main Street next to Nolan’s Pub!
• Cost: Free admission; Beer and wine tickets cost $5.00 each, with premium pours available for $10. NOTE: Tickets must be purchased to obtain beer and wine. Vendors do not accept cash.
• Parking/road closures: Free parking is located in any of the public lots downtown, including  the one on the corner of Main Street and 2nd Avenue North, as well as on side streets where permitted. The Safety Harbor Jolley Trolley will also be running extended hours for the event. NOTE: Main Street will be closed from 8th Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard from noon until midnight.
• Beneficiaries: Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center; Rotary Club of safety Harbor; Safety Harbor Kiwanis Club; Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History
• Contact: City of Safety Harbor, 727-724-1572
• Info: CityofSafetyHarbor.com/events

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