“Cheers for Charity” Night in Partnership with Hospice of Michigan

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival – the largest culinary celebration in the Midwest – returns to DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids November 21-23.

 

New this year is the Thursday “Cheers for Charity” night, from 6-9pm in the Grand Gallery space, benefitting Hospice of Michigan. This evening will feature an intimate and upscale experience featuring a dozen restaurants and specialty food producers serving mouth-watering small plates, food and beverage demonstrations on the Meijer Food Stage and hand-selected beverages (wine, beer, cider, spirits and sake) with multiple themed tables like Historical Beers, Best of Bubbles, Emerging Wine Regions, Undiscovered Varietals and Marvelous Michigan, among others.

 

“Hospice of Michigan is honored to be selected as the charity partner for the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival,” says Barbara Anderson, associate vice president of philanthropy for Hospice of Michigan. “I encourage everyone to mark their calendars for Thursday, November 21! Fundraisers like this are vital to help ensure everyone in our community can receive compassionate end-of-life care – regardless of age, diagnosis or financial resources.”

 

“Grand Rapids is widely recognized as a premier culinary destination not only in Michigan, but throughout the Great Lakes region,” notes Richard MacKeigan, ASM Global General Manager. “Our community is also a leader when it comes to charitable partnerships that benefit well-deserving non-profit organizations, like Hospice of Michigan. I am looking forward to attending the ‘Cheers for Charity’ kick-off event not only to indulge in all the wonderful foods and beverages that will be featured, but to mingle with friends and colleagues while ultimately raising much-needed funds for Hospice of Michigan’s invaluable programs.”

 

The Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival opens to the General Public on Friday (4-9pm) and Saturday (2-9pm) with more than 1,200 beverages, dozens of restaurants – including six offering intimate Pairing Dinners – and chef-led cooking demonstrations.

 

Tickets for the Festival go on sale on Friday, September 13 at Noon. “Cheers for Charity” tickets are $150 per person (which includes 150 tasting tickets good for food and/or beverage samples). General Admission tickets, for Friday and Saturday, are $25 per person, per day. Tasting tickets are available for 50-cents each, redeemable for food and beverages. Pairing dinners are sold as an additional ticket and feature multiple courses perfectly paired with wine and/or beer. Details about the restaurants and the menus will be posted at GRWineFestival.com when tickets go on sale.

 

Since its inception in 2008, this Festival – named by Forbes.com in 2019 as one of a dozen “Fall Wine Festivals In North America You Don’t Want to Miss” and 8 Best Fall Festivals in Michigan by BestThingsMI.com – has grown into the largest and most popular of its kind in the Midwest. Admission tickets, pairing reservations, tasting sessions and other details will be posted in early fall at GRWineFestival.com.