After a two-year hiatus due to COVID cancellations, Blacksburg Fork & Cork is returning on Saturday, April 23, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., with VIP early access at noon.
The event goes on rain or shine and will be held in a new location at Historic Smithfield, adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus. This regional festival is returning for its 12th year and, as before, will feature award-winning Virginia wines, popular food trucks and delicious fare, live music, and a variety of unique merchandise from Blacksburg, the New River and Roanoke Valleys, and beyond.
“We are so excited for the return of Blacksburg Fork & Cork,” said Ann Cassell, president of The Blacksburg Partnership, the organization hosting the event.
“This festival has a dedicated following, and Historic Smithfield offers a beautiful new environment for festival goers,” said Cassell. “We are thrilled to be able to feature Virginia wines, regional food vendors, and local specialty products. We are hopeful that it will be a gorgeous spring day for attendees to enjoy live music, great food, delicious wine, and the company of friends.”
Local folk singer/songwriter Kat Mills will kick off the festival entertainment at noon, followed by Nashville artist and Season 16 American Idol contestant, Carly Moffa, the festival headliner. Both performers will be featured on the festival’s main stage, sponsored by the Moss Arts Center.
Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase online at www.blacksburgforkandcork.com. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Regular admission tickets can be purchased on site the day of the festival. VIP tickets are pre-sale only, are for ages 21+ and are available in limited quantity. VIP tickets allow the ticket holder one-hour early access to the festival grounds beginning at noon and including all the benefits of a regular tasting ticket plus access to the VIP area with specialty tastings not available to regular ticket holders, select VIP amenities, and light snacks.
Non-drinking VIP tickets are $25 pre-sale only.
Regular tasting tickets (ages 21+) are $35 pre-sale and $40 at the gate the day of the festival.
The regular tickets allow ticket holders access to the festival grounds, wine samplings, food trucks, festival vendors, and live music. Regular tasting ticket holders may purchase glasses or bottles of wine.
Non-drinking admission only tickets are $15 pre-sale and at the gate the day of the festival.
Children 12 and younger are free with an accompanying adult aged 18 and older.
A photo ID is required for age verification of all participating adult attendees. Festivalgoers must have a wine tasting ticket to sample, as well as to purchase, wine by the glass or bottle.
In addition, more than 110 volunteers are needed for a variety of festival tasks. All volunteers receive a Blacksburg Fork & Cork volunteer T-shirt, complimentary access to the festival before or after their shift, and (if 21+ years old) a souvenir wine glass for sampling. Volunteers are still needed. To become a volunteer or to learn more, visit www.blacksburgforkandcork.com/volunteer.
All proceeds from this event support The Blacksburg Partnership in its mission to improve the quality of life in Blacksburg. The Blacksburg Partnership, a non-profit, independent organization focused on economic development and community improvement with the goal of making Blacksburg a more vibrant place to live, work, learn, and play.
Partnership projects include the revitalization of retail districts, NRV Passenger Rail, Blacksburg Young Professionals, and community arts endeavors such as Gobble de Art (the Hokie Birds you see all over town).The Blacksburg Partnership is known for two signature events: Blacksburg Fork & Cork and Blacksburg Brew Do.
Two new events will be added to the calendar this year as well: “Croquet Soirée” June 24-25, a traditional croquet tournament delivered in an unconventional (and fun) way; and “Runway 5K,” a 5K footrace on the runway of the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport later this year (the date to be announced).
