Southwest Harbor's popular Oktoberfest has expanded to include events on Friday evening as well as the annual Saturday Beer and Crafts Festival. The weekend events begin with a wine and cheese tasting on Friday, October 7, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. at Smuggler's Den Campground. Visitors can participate in a tasting tour of some of the finest wine producing countries including Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy and the United States. There will be a few special surprises among the wines and visitors are encouraged to come, learn and enjoy. To add to the tasting experience the wines will be paired with cheeses from local Maine creameries on and off Mt. Desert Island. These showcased cheeses will be available for sampling and purchase on site.
The entry fee will be $22.00 per couple or $12.00 per individual for both the wine and cheese tasting and includes a souvenir wine glass as well as a wine list for note taking. Visitors will have the opportunity to purchase wines for future delivery. The fee for those interested in attending but not tasting wines is $5.00 and includes the cheese sampling. Parking will be available onsite at Smuggler's Den. The event will close at 6:00 p.m.
To enhance the weekend experience, the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce will sponsor "Wristband Specials" throughout the weekend. Attendees to any weekend event, either Friday or Saturday, will have the opportunity to get discounts at most local restaurants and merchants just by displaying the Oktoberfest Wristbands. The list of all participating businesses will be available on this website, on the Friday night wine list, on flyers handed out on Saturday and on flyers that will be posted in Southwest Harbor for the event.
Oktoberfest participants are encouraged to come early and stay late while enjoying all that Southwest harbor and Tremont have to offer.