Cider & Mead Festival at Farmer’s Market May 14

Proceeds benefiting the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program

Up to ten Northwest hard cider and mead producers including Finnriver, Wescott Bay, Red Barn, Sky River, Alpenfire, Adytum, Crispin and Tieton Cider Works will be gathering together at the first Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival at Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, several Orcas homebrews will be judged by the professionals and crowned “Island Best of the Fest,” perhaps the first of its kind.

The event will be held under a large tent near the Village stage.  Island musicians, Bruce Harvie and the Calvados Brothers, Gene Nery and Martin Lund, and “This is Lizzard” with Lizanne Hennessey and Roland Stolk will be entertaining the throng all day long.  Anyone over 21 will be able to taste the ciders and meads for a $5 to $15 admission fee benefiting our Farm to Cafeteria Program.

During the week before the event, the cider and mead makers will have food pairings and products featured at Allium and Ship Bay. The Lower Tavern will be featuring a producer or two on their wine list, and The Kitchen will be cooking up a lunch on the Friday before using ciders in several of its dishes.

Sponsors of the event are Ray’s Pharmacy, Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce, Permit Resources, The Nest, San Juan Insurance, Crow Valley Pottery, Bay Head Marina, The Gudgell Group, Allium, Inn at Ship Bay, Chimayo’s, The Kitchen,  and The Lower Tavern.

Updates will be posted on the Farm to Cafeteria web site at www.orcasislandf2c.org as the event continues to develop.  Mark your calendar and bring friends to the Farmers Market May 14 and enjoy a great cider and mead festival!