GaylordHotels’ Four Resorts Offer SummerFest Events, Activities Including DreamWorks Experience

Dancing Fountains, a nightly event, in the spectacular atrium of the Gaylord National, a premier resort just outside Washington DC. Gaylord Hotels are offering SummerFest, with special activities and events all summer © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Gaylord Hotels’ SummerFest, is offering family vacationers an exciting line-up of special events and activities available all summer long – from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend at all four Gaylord Hotels.

Located in or near Washington, D.C., Nashville, Orlando and Dallas, the four Gaylord Hotels are destinations unto themselves. Each property’s design provides a stunning backdrop for relaxing fun, whether it’s a family vacation or a couple’s getaway, with entertainment, art and architecture celebrating each area’s local history. Best of all – and new for SummerFest – guests can now earn Marriott Rewards points when they stay at Gaylord Hotels.

As part of SummerFest, guests can enjoy the Summer DreamWorks experience and vacation with the beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Puss In Boots and Madagascar. Interactive DreamWorks-themed activities created exclusively for kids and families will make their stays unforgettable. At each resort, guests will also discover dining options overseen by award-winning chefs who showcase regional delicacies, full-service spas and salons, indoor and outdoor pools, access to golf, shopping and much more. Or, with convenient transportation options available at each resort to local attractions, guests can set off on excursions to explore the exciting offerings found in each region.

SummerFest at Gaylord National Resort (National Harbor, Md.)
Gaylord National, the premiere waterfront resort on the Potomac River and a gateway to Washington, D.C., will embody all-American fun this summer. Guests will enjoy spectacular fireworks shows over the river, food and drink specials, nightly sunset toasts, a weekly Artisanal Cheese Class hosted by the hotel’s Maitre d’Fromage, splashin’ fun at the pool and adjacent sundeck overlooking the waterfront, and exclusive summer spa treatments. Kids and families are in for a treat with the Summer DreamWorks Experience, an exciting array of activities featuring favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Madagascar, Puss In Boots and Kung Fu Panda. Exclusive events include DreamWorks Dance Parties and the Madagascar Crack-A-Lackin’ Cook-In (character dining). Just steps from the resort, guests can explore the exciting destination of National Harbor, Maryland, which offers dozens of restaurants, shops, art galleries, nightlife venues and weekly outdoor events such as movies along the waterfront, live musical performances, an open-air street market, and popular summer festivals such as the Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival. For packages and more information, go to www.gaylordhotels.com/summerfest.

SummerFest at Gaylord Opryland Resort (Nashville, Tenn.)
Gaylord Opryland brings the toe-tapping magic of Music City to life with live entertainment and easy access to Nashville’s most popular attractions, including the Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson Showboat, Wildhorse Saloon, and the historic Ryman Auditorium. This summer, guests will enjoy live music, culinary tours and demonstrations, carriage and Delta flatboat rides, and many other engaging events all season long. Families are especially in for a treat with the Summer DreamWorks Experience, an exciting array of activities featuring favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Madagascar, Puss In Boots and Kung Fu Panda. Exclusive events include DreamWorks Experience Meet & Greets, Saturday Family Fun Nights, the Madagascar Crack-A-Lackin’ Cook-In (character dining), and DreamWorks-themed pool parties. For packages and more information, go to www.gaylordhotels.com/summerfest.

SummerFest at Gaylord Palms Resort (Kissimmee, Fla.)
SummerFest at Gaylord Palms is a great way to celebrate what the sunshine state is famous for: sun, music and fun! Guests will enjoy family entertainment, live music, and drink and dining specials all summer long, from our Key West Sunset Celebrations to specialty craft beers in our Wreckers Beer Garden. Kids and families are in for a treat with the Summer DreamWorks Experience, an exciting array of activities featuring favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. Exclusive events include DreamWorks Experience Meet & Greets, ShrekFeast (character dining), afternoon poolside games and the Crack-A-Lackin’ Pool Party at the fabulous Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park with four water slides, Tree House water play structure and “Toddler Bay.” For packages and more information, go to www.gaylordhotels.com/summerfest.

SummerFest at Gaylord Texan Resort (Grapevine, Texas)
Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Grapevine (close to Dallas/Ft. Worth), Gaylord Texan celebrates the spirit and unique beauty of the Lone Star State with four-and-a-half acres of gardens and regionally inspired architecture under glass. This summer, guests will enjoy live entertainment such as strolling characters, magicians, stilt walkers and face painters, firework shows every Friday night, culinary events and classes such as junior chef camps, adult cooking classes, poolside music and mimosas, pool parties at Paradise Springs – the resort’s 10-acre pool and lazy river complex, acrylic painting classes for adults and kids, a Texas atrium art tour, sunrise yoga, spa specials and live music all season long. Families are especially in for a treat with the Summer DreamWorks Experience, an exciting array of activities featuring favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation films such as Shrek, Madagascar, Puss In Boots and Kung Fu Panda. Exclusive events include DreamWorks Experience Meet & Greets and the Madagascar Crack-A-Lackin’ Cook-In (character dining). For packages and more information, go to www.gaylordhotels.com/summerfest.

As part of the Marriott family of brands, Gaylord Hotels® is a collection of hotels and upscale resorts that afford endless opportunities for leisure travelers and conventioneers. The brand’s hallmark—“everything in one place”—provides guests with diverse dining options, quality spa and fitness center services, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping and endless activities. Gaylord Hotels is a pioneer in the hotel and convention industry with properties in the nation’s most desirable destinations. Gaylord Hotels properties include Gaylord Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn.; Gaylord Palms® in Kissimmee, Fla. (near Orlando); Gaylord Texan® in Grapevine, Texas (near Dallas); Gaylord National® in National Harbor, Md. (near Washington, D.C.); and The Inn at Opryland® in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit http://www.GaylordHotels.com.

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 3,800 properties in 74 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

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Seattle Gears Up for Fremont Oktoberfest, Sept 20-22

Fremont Oktoberfest hosts an outdoor urban Tasting Garden two city blocks where revelers can sample from over 80 microbrews and raise their German beer steins in the Buxom Beer Garden.

Fremont Oktoberfest is Seattle’s fall tradition September 20-22 2013, taking over two city blocks of Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, aka the Center of the Universe.

Fremont Oktoberfest hosts an outdoor urban Tasting Garden two city blocks where revelers can sample from over 80 microbrews and raise their German beer steins in the Buxom Beer Garden. The Buxom Beer Garden is also the place to participate in or watch Fremont’s twist on Oktoberfest pageantry, the Buxom Royalty Contest.

Voted by USA Today, Orbitz.com and Bing.com as one of the top places to toast Oktoberfest in the world, this three-day fall festival also features more than just hops! Fremont Oktoberfest hosts a full music line-up on the main stage, but without a single oompah band in sight. That’s the boompahpah!

The all-ages Oktoberfest Village brings families together with a Kids Area, a food line-up including traditional German brats, Sunday Dogtoberfest activities, and the infamous Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving Contest.

The weekend also includes a brew ha-ha of a run, the Fremont Oktoberfest 5K, where runners can participate in teams or compete in the coveted beer belly division, and finish at the Village Beer Garden.

Admission to the Fremont Oktoberfest Tasting Garden is $20 and up for guests 21 and over only and go on sale August 12, 2013 at fremontoktoberfest.com. The Fremont Oktoberfest Village is free.

Fremont Oktoberfest is a benefit for the Fremont Chamber of Commerce funding local schools, art groups, community events and promoting Fremont as the “Center of the Universe.” More information about the Fremont Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.fremontseattle.com.

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Blue Ridge Music Festival Ticket Prices Rise on April 16; Takes Place in Salem, VA June 1

With only a couple of months left to go, the highly-anticipated Blue Ridge Music Festival will see an increase in ticket price starting April 16. The one-day festival, to be held at Salem Stadium in Salem, Va., on June 1, will feature performances by Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, Charles Esten, who plays Deacon Claybourne on ABC’s hit show “Nashville,” Gloriana, Colt Ford, Greg Bates, Will Hoge and Virginia’s own legendary party group, The Skip Castro Band. Tickets are currently on sale at the Salem Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

The early-bird ticket price will end at 11:59 pm ET on April 15, when reserved and general admission field tickets will increase to $40 (plus additional fees). In addition, a very limited number of VIP tickets are being made available. VIP ticket holders will receive preferred reserved seating, preferred parking, VIP express entry, an invitation to the exclusive festival after-party, private bathrooms, private cash bar (beer & wine only), complimentary boxed lunch and a commemorative Blue Ridge Music Festival poster. VIP Experience tickets are $99.50 (plus additional fees).

“Because of today’s economy, we wanted to offer up the chance to see all of these great artists for a low price to music fans,” says Festival Producer Carey Harveycutter. “We are excited with the response we’ve gotten about the talent line-up and can’t wait until June 1 for our inaugural event to take place.”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeMusicFestival

Twitter: www.twitter.com/blueridgefest

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FestEVOL concert series adds to fun of spring snowsports at Crested Butte,Colorado

In its fourth year at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, FestEVOL showcases great live music, spring skiing and riding, and all-natural foods.

FestEVOL, Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s (CBMR) springtime concert series returns for another show this spring. FestEVOL is a unique lifestyle experience combining snowsports with live music, innovative natural brands and the sustainably focused Reverb Eco-Village. In its fourth year, FestEVOL will showcase a great line-up of live music, skiing and riding, and all-natural foods to CBMR. On Saturday, March 9, local band Mine Control will start the festivities off, followed by Vermont-based band Twiddle, with special guest John Popper of Blues Traveler. The main act will be The Wailers, reggae legends and also crowd pleasers.

Concert tickets are now on sale for the Crested Butte event at http://www.skicb.com/festevol. General admission tickets are $25 per person and a limited number of VIP tickets are available for $50 per person. CBMR season passholder discounts are available when purchasing in the Adventure Center at the resort. Lodging, lift ticket and concert packages are available at a 25% discount, when purchasing all together. Call Crested Butte Vacations for more information at 800-600-2803 or locally at 970-349-4554. Guests can also buy concert tickets onsite for $30 per person until the show begins.

This year, FestEVOL begins its three stop tour at Crested Butte Mountain Resort March 9^th. Then heads east March 16^th to Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont, where O.A.R will open for Yukon Kornelious and Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, New Hampshire on March 23, featuring O.A.R.

As a little background, FestEVOL began three years ago in Crested Butte, Colo. as an idea among friends and now partners; combining mountain sports, live music, innovative natural brands and a sustainably focused “eco village” to keep the event green and to help spread environment consciousness among concert-goers. FestEVOL teamed up with the IZSTYLE winter tour to feature the Reverb Eco Village. This interactive village includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco Village also highlights all natural/organic food sampling and ski/snowboard equipment demos with Nordica skis and Burton snowboards.

Reverb is a non-profit started by Guster band member Adam Gardner, and his wife Lauren Sullivan as an effort to “green up” concert venues, including things like enhancing recycling efforts, switching tour buses to bio-diesel, and using LED lights for on-stage lighting to name a few.

For more information on the FestEVOL tour and its partners visit www.skicb.com/festvevol.

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Enter Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Sweepstakes for Chance to Win Trip to Miami

Time Warner Cable is currently running a sweepstakes where five lucky Grand Prize winners will win a trip for two to Miami on February 21-24 to enjoy the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE.

Each of the five Grand Prize winners will get a three-day/two-night trip for two to Miami to attend the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival including tickets to select events at the Festival, select talent meet and greets, $500 in spending money and one year of the best available Digital TV and Broadband Internet service.

To enter the Sweepstakes, entrants must be a fan of the Time Warner Cable Facebook or Mi Cultura Facebook pages in order to fill out and submit the online registration form by January 21. The Official Rules are available at www.facebook.com/TWC or www.facebook.com/MiCultura. The Grand Prize winner will be selected on or around January 22.

No purchase is necessary. void where prohibited. The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Sweepstakes presented by Time Warner Cable is open to legal U.S. residents who reside in a serviceable area of Time Warner Cable or Insight Communications and those living in the same household in the following states/areas: AL, AZ, CA, CO (only in Gunnison), GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WV, or WI, and 21 years of age or older. Starts 10:01 a.m. ET 12/26/12 & ends 11:59 p.m. ET 1/21/13.

For the official rules and complete details, visit facebook.com/twc or facebook.com/micultura. Sweepstakes sponsored by Time Warner Cable Inc.

All proceeds from the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU).  To date, the Festival has raised more than $16 million for FIU.  For more information on the Festival,  visit www.sobefest.com.

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Access Trips has new culinary tour highlighting best of California wine country culture; partners with Sonoma Film Festival

From exclusive cooking classes with Sonoma’s top chefs to private vineyard tours and tastings, Access Trips brand new five-day culinary tour is a foodie fantasy in the heart of California’s Wine Country. The new tour offers access to some of Sonoma’s most renowned local restaurants, chefs and vintners, as guests learn to cook with organic, locally sourced ingredients that change seasonally and showcase the best of California cuisine.

Nestled in a lush valley with trellised vineyards climbing the surrounding hills, and bound by a central plaza and a historic Spanish mission, Sonoma is arguably one of the most beautiful towns in California. Offering a quaint, intimate alternative to the usual tourist trails in Napa, Sonoma is a mecca of cultural and culinary treasures awaiting discovery.

For the ultimate California experience, Access Trips has partnered with the Sonoma International Film Festival to offer a discounted three-day, three-night Film Festival VIP extension package for guests on Access Trips’ first Sonoma Culinary tour departing April 7, 2013. The tour’s July departure was also timed to dovetail on Destination Race’s Napa to Sonoma half marathon on July 21, 2013.

California Wine Country Culinary Tour
Five-days from $2,590 pp

From once-in-a-lifetime cooking classes with Sonoma’s finest chefs to wine, cheese and chocolate truffle tastings and a tour of one of California’s oldest family owned vineyards, Access Trips’ California Wine Country Culinary Tour is a gourmand’s dream. Indulge your palate during sumptuous meals at top Sonoma restaurants, Café La Haye and Harvest Moon Café, before enjoying exclusive cooking classes led by such big names as Harvest Moon Chef Nick Demarest. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, olive groves and rolling vineyards, visit Stone Edge Farm for a multi-course cooking class with acclaimed chef, John McReynolds, and learn tricks to add variety to recipes at home. Discover the local farmers market, take in the sites during a hike along the Glen Ellen Reservoir and relax poolside at the luxurious, boutique, Macarthur Place – Sonoma’s finest Inn and Spa.
http://www.accesstrips.com/sports/culinary-tour/

Sonoma International Film Festival VIP Package
Three-days from $2,000 pp

Get in touch with your inner movie star during Access Trips’ three-day, three-night Sonoma International Film Festival extension. Enjoy VIP-access passes to all films, filmmakers, and discussion panels, and of course, exclusive parties with the best in California wine and cuisine! Savor your red carpet moment at the red carpet gala, where you’ll find out which celebrity will be honored by the association. The main festivities are in the Sonoma Plaza, just four blocks walking distance from Macarthur Place, your luxurious inn and spa. Book the Film Festival package along with the California Wine Country Culinary Tour and receive 10% off both the tour AND the extension, for a total savings of $459 per person. Space is limited to just 12 guests.

Access Trips is a leading adventure travel  operator specializing in exotic learning vacations to 13 countries worldwide. This company offers a wide range of small-group outdoor sports and culinary-focused trips that are expertly designed to allow guests to experience a new culture, learn new skills or fine-tune existing ones, and revel in the splendor of their destination. Based in San Francisco, California and launched in 2001, Access Trips’ impressive portfolio includes cooking, surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, and multisport itineraries. Regardless of the focus of the activity, Access Trips caters to a variety of skill levels, serving the novice as well as the expert in a relaxed, non-intimidating setting with the help of world-class instructors and multilingual guides. For more information about Access Trips and the adventure tours available, visit www.accesstrips.com.

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75,000 Passes for 46th Annual Festival d’été de Québec to Go on Sale Dec. 1

Look for 75,000 passes for the 46^th Festival d’été de Québec to go on sale starting at noon on Saturday, December 1. This early-bird sale will be held exclusively online and by phone, ending December 31 or when passes are sold out. The price is $66, taxes and service fee included. Starting February 23, 2013, an additional 75,000 passes will go on sale at the regular price of $76, taxes and service fee included.

The 46^th edition of the Festival d’été de Québec will be held from July 4 to 14, 2013 in Quebec City.

“First, we took into account the criticism and comments we’ve been hearing in the past few years. Then we looked at what was being done elsewhere, by the other big festivals drawing tens of thousands of participants, like us. We settled on what seems to be the fairest and easiest solution for everyone and the most widely-used. Plus, by extending the purchasing period, we hope to avoid overloading the system,” explained the general manager of the Festival d’été de Québec, Daniel Gélinas.

So take note:

- 2 dates: December 1, 2012 and February 23, 2013
- 2 prices: $66 and $76
- 2 ways to buy: Internet and telephone

“By concentrating sales online or by phone, we’ll be able to get contact information for all our buyers and build a genuine community that we can communicate with from now on,” pointed out Festival chair of the board, Nancy Savard.

The Festival pass includes a Bell RFID wristband and a flashing badge, and is good for all 11 days of Festival shows, at all the outdoor and indoor venues. As in past years, you can buy up to 4 passes per transaction with a choice of delivery by mail or pick-up in person at the Laurier Québec shopping mall.

“Laurier Québec has agreed to work with us to make it easier for people to pick up their passes locally, and we really appreciate their collaboration,” Gélinas added.

For full details on this special sale go to http://www.infofestival.com.

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13th Annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival Announces 67 Participating Breweries, Importers

The Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival, held in Vail January 10th–13th, has released the much-anticipated list of attending breweries. This year’s initial line-up from around the world lists 67 representing breweries and four importers, including seventeen first-time attendees, keeping the selections ever-fresh. The festival is unique because attendees get to speak with the actual brewers or top brewery representatives in a very intimate environment during the course of the three day event.

The announcement of offerings from event organizers includes:

AC Golden Brewing Co. (Colorado)
Alaskan Brewing Co. (Alaska)

Allagash Brewing Co. (Maine)
Altitude Chophouse (Wyoming)

Anchor Brewing Co. (California)

Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. (Belgium)

Artisanal Imports (International Selection)

Aspen Brewing Co. (Colorado)
Avery Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Backcountry Brewery (Colorado)
Belukus Imports (International Selection)

Bell’s Brewing Co. (Michigan)
Big Choice Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Bonfire Brewing Co. (Vail, Colorado)

Bootstrap Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Boston Beer Co. (Massachusetts)

Boulder Beer Co. (Colorado)

Boulevard Brewing Co. (Missouri)

Breckenridge Brewery (Colorado)
Bristol Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Butcherknife Brewing Co. (Colorado)

C2 Imports (International selection)

Coronado Brewing Co. (California)

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (Colorado)
Denver Beer Co. (Colorado)

Deschutes Brewing Co. (Oregon)

Dillon Dam Brewing Co. (Colorado)
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (Delaware)

Dry Dock Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Elevation Beer Co. (Colorado)

Epic Brewing Co. (Utah)

Fate Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (California)

Flying Dog Brewery (California)

Funkwerks Brewing Co. (Colorado)
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Goose Island (Illinois)

Grand Teton Brewing Co. (Wyoming)
Gravity Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Great Divide Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Colorado)

Lagunitas Brewing Co. (California)

Lakewood Brewing Co. (Texas)
Left Hand Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Lost Abbey Brewing Co. (California)

Loveland Aleworks (Colorado)

Merchant du Vin (International Selection)

Moylan’s Brewing Co. (California)

New Belgium Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Odell Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Oskar Blues Brewery (Colorado)

Papago Brewing Co. (Arizona)

Pug Ryan’s Brewery (Colorado)

Renegade Brewing Co. (Colorado)

River North Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Roadhouse Brewing Co. (Wyoming)

Rockyard Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Shmaltz Brewing Co. (California and New York)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (California)

Ska Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Stone Brewing Co. (California)

Strange Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Surly Brewing Co (Minnesota)

Tenth & Blake Co. (Colorado and Illinois)

Three Barrel Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Tommyknocker Brewery (Colorado)

Uinta Brewing Co. (Utah)

Upslope Brewing Co (Colorado)

Widmer Brewing Co. (Oregon)

Wit’s End Brewing Co. (Colorado)

Programming for the three day educational and extremely fun Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival includes returning favorites, and usually sold out/standing-room only programs such as the opening Calibration Dinner, the Traditional Brewmaster’s Dinner, the experimental brewing seminar: “Brewers Gone Wild,” and CraftBeer.com’s Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off. Both dinners are five-course white tablecloth ‘double’ beer pairing dinners with commentary from the brewmasters and chefs. Many more programs are listed on the event website; special guests and seminars will be updated on the event website, http://www.bigbeersfestival.com as details are finalized.

Designed to welcome the beer connoisseur, the innovative homebrewer, and the novice taster, participants will find events appropriate for all levels of interest. Throughout the course of the entire festival, breweries from around the world participate, offering literally hundreds of choices of elite brews. For more information, contact Kirsten Texler, Key Link PR, at kirsten@keylinkinc.net and visit the event website at www.bigbeersfest.com.

Jekyll Island to host Georgia Literary Festival, Nov.9-10

The grand, historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel © 2012 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Two of the most highly acclaimed writers in the nation will be among the guest speakers at the Georgia Literary Festival, being held November 9-10 on Jekyll Island, Georgia, the Jekyll Island Authority announced.

Natasha Tretheway, who was named U.S. Poet Laureate this year, as well as Georgia Poet Laureate Judson Mitcham, will be included in the line-up of talented writers slated for the 2012 Georgia Literary Festival. Also speaking at the two-day festival will be accomplished Southern cuisine chef Hugh Acheson, a six-time James Beard-nominee and author of “A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen,” as well as authors Janisse Ray, Mary Kay Andrews, Steve Berry and more than 30 authors with roots linking to Georgia and the South.

“This is an amazing event filled with extremely talented writers. It is certainly an honor to have not only the U.S. Poet Laureate, but also the state Poet Laureate alongside this line-up of such accomplished, gifted authors, come to Jekyll Island,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “We are simply delighted to be a part of this marvelous event. This is the premier literary event in Georgia every year. On Jekyll Island, we could not be more thrilled to host the event this year.”

During the two-day festival, slated for Nov. 9 and 10, dozens of celebrated authors will speak at the oceanfront Jekyll Island Convention Center, discussing a variety of topics, including workshops and lectures on their own work and inspirations. There will be a full day of free author programs at the Convention Center Saturday with additional special events Friday and Saturday at the nearby Jekyll Island Club Hotel.

Sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book with funding from the Georgia Humanities Council and local sponsors, the 14^th annual festival will be co-hosted by the College of Coastal Georgia, the Jekyll Island Authority and the Golden Isles Chamber and Visitors Bureau, among others.

Representatives of area organizations including the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, have been planning the event since 2011.

The 2012 Georgia Literary Festival will be held November 9 and 10 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, with select events hosted at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Admission to most festival events is free. In conjunction with the festival, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is offering a guest package, which includes two nights of accommodations, a wine dinner Saturday featuring a menu by Chef Hugh Acheson, tickets to the “Tea with Ms. Daisy” event Friday, as well as breakfast both mornings.

For more information on Jekyll Island Club Hotel packages and for a complete Festival schedule, visit www.jekyllclub.com. For more information about the Festival and featured authors, visit www.georgiacenterforthebook.org.

About A Few Of The Authors:

Natasha Tretheway­— The Keynote Speaker for the festival, Tretheway was recently named U.S Poet Laureate and is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 2007 for her collection “Native guard,” she is an English professor at Emory University. A native of Mississippi, she has written both poetry and nonfiction including “Beyond Katrina:” A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” She is a winner of the Lillian Smith Award and is represented on the Georgia Center for the Book list of “25 Books All Georgians Should Read.”

Judson Mitcham — Recently named the Georgia Poet Laureate, Mitcham is the award-winning author of both poetry and fiction whose books include the novels “The Sweet Everlasting” and “Sabbath Creek.” He is a two-time winner of the Georgia Author of the Year and the Townsend Prize. His books of poetry include “Somewhere in Ecclesiastes.” He currently teaches at Mercer University in Macon.

Hugh Acheson — A regular judge on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” cooking series, Acheson is the renowned chef and author of “A New Turn in the South: Southern Flavors Reinvented for Your Kitchen.” A six-time James Beard nominee for Best Chef Southeast and recently named Best Chef by Food and Wine magazine, Acheson is the chef/owner of the award-winning 5 & 10 restaurant in Athens and Empire State South in Atlanta.

Steve Berry — The author of a dozen historical thrillers, Berry has become one of America’s top selling authors. A native of Atlanta who lived on the Georgia coast for many years, he was a successful trial attorney whose first book “The Amber Room” was a bestseller in 2003. His more recent novels include “The Balkan Escape,” “The Templar Legacy” and “The Jefferson Key.”

Pamela Bauer Mueller — A prize-winning author of books for children and adults, Bauer Mueller lives on Jekyll Island and is known through the Golden Isles as one of the region’s top writers. She has written and published eight books of fiction and won three Georgia Author of the Year awards. Among her books for young readers are three with settings on the Georgia coast: “Neptune’s Honor,” “An Angry Drum Echoed” and “Splendid Isolation.”

June McCash — McCash is the author of six nonfiction books and most recently a debut novel, “Almost to Eden” set on Jekyll Island. Three of her books have focused on the history of Jekyll Island and the Jekyll Island Club: “Jekyll Island’s Early Years,” “The Jekyll Island Club” and “The Jekyll Island Cottage Colony.” She makes her home in Tennessee.

See:

Jekyll Island, from Gilded Age playground to Georgia’s public park and slideshow

 Jekyll Island Club Hotel enchants with timeless charm and slideshow

 

Tickets on Sale for Vail’s Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival

Tickets for the 13th Annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival are available for purchase on the event website at http://www.bigbeersfestival.com. Vail Cascade Resort is once again the host location for the event being held January 10-12th, 2013. Returning favorites and usually sold out/standing-room only programs include the opening Calibration Dinner, a Traditional Brewmaster’s Dinner, the experimental brewing seminar, “Brewers Gone Wild,” and CraftBeer.com’s Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off. Both dinners are five-course white tablecloth beer pairing dinners with commentary from the brewmasters and chefs. Many more programs are listed on the event website; special guests and seminars continue to be added to the already packed line-up.

Designed to welcome the beer connoisseur, the innovative homebrewer, and the novice taster, participants will find events appropriate for all levels of interest. Throughout the course of the entire festival, breweries from around the world participate, offering literally hundreds of choices of elite brews.

2013 Featured Brewmasters

One of the most eagerly awaited announcements is the designation of the two Featured Brewmasters, considered a high honor in a festival of this caliber. This year, the two craft beer celebrities will be Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster for Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, California and Kevin DeLange, Owner/Founder of Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, Colorado. DeLange’s Dry Dock Brewing was awarded “Small Brewing Company of the Year” in 2009 at one of the industry’s largest events: the Great American Beer Festival. Brynildson’s Firestone Walker has been recognized in the media as “the most award-winning craft brewery in the world,” and most recently won Champion Brewery/Brewmaster for Mid-Size Breweries at the 2012 World Beer Cup.

The role of the Featured Brewmasters is to co-host the Traditional Brewmaster’s Dinner on Friday evening, and each brewmaster will present a seminar on their choice of topic on Saturday. Avery Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery open the weekend annually with the Cailbration Dinner.

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival is a three day event featuring educational seminars including a Cicerone workshop (similar to the Sommelier designation in the world of wine), two Brewmasters dinners, and a wildly popular and uber-competitive homebrew competition. A Commercial Tasting tops off the events with more than sixty breweries and importers showcasing their wares. A majority of the breweries are represented by the actual owner or brewmaster, a unique opportunity compared to other festivals.

Brewmasters, Brewery Owners & Importers

The brewmasters, brewery owners and importers that showcase their wares at the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival come from all over the world. Previous attendees have had the opportunity to sample American craft beer from California, Delaware, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. The international offerings hail from far and wide with a concentration of beer from European countries, particularly Belgium, and the importers make a point of providing extreme diversity both in style and in origin.

New VIP Pass Option

New for this year are a limited number of VIP passes, available on the event website, which include

A seat at each of the Brewmasters’ Dinners on Thursday and Friday

A Commercial Tasting & Seminars Ticket

Reserved Seat/Media access at each Seminar

Welcome Reception admission

Early admission to the Commercial Tasting

Commemorative 2013 Glassware (two tulip glasses)

Choice of Festival-wear: hat or t-shirt

Choice of Festival-wear: hoodie or jacket

Taxes & gratuity for all of the above are included in the package price.  Pass price is $500

Beneficiary

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival actively supports the efforts of the Vail Valley Charitable Fund, a local organization that helps individuals who live and work in the Vail Valley that have critical financial need due to medical catastrophes, accidents or long-term illnesses. For more information about the VVCF, visit www.vvcf.org

Lodging Partners

Other Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines partnering properties offering special lodging rates for Big Beers participants & attendees include the Holiday Inn/Apex Vail, Simba Run and the Lionshead Inn. More information about lodging options is listed on the event website, http://www.bigbeersfestival.com.

For more information on the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines event, email bigbeersfestival@hotmail.com.

For more travel features, visit:

www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

http://www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

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