Ridgeland’s Art, Wine and Wheels starts Friday
RIDGELAND — Art, Wine and Wheels kicks off here this weekend promising a family-friendly event filled with fun and food.
Thousands are expected to flock to Ridgeland, organizers say.
Mayor Gene McGee described Art, Wine and Wheels, as a “big, exciting weekend.”
In addition to being fun, the weekend also brings a good amount of business to the city, he said.
“It is a good weekend for Ridgeland,” McGee said. “It is a tremendous benefit.”
The weekend consists of the Ridgeland Fine Arts Festival, the Natchez Trace Century Ride and the Sante South Wine Festival.
The Fine Arts Festival starts Friday, May 5, at 3 p.m. at the Renaissance at Colony Park. Booths will be open until 7 p.m. that evening.
Friday night will also feature the Kick OFF Party at the Renaissance Show Fountain which starts at 5 p.m. The party will feature live music from The Unfazed Experience from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The festival will continue with art, live music, food trucks and activities for children on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We are excited for the Ridgeland Fine Arts Festival,” McGee said. “It brings artists to Ridgeland from all over.”
The Natchez Trace Century Ride is Saturday, May 6, starting at 5:45 a.m. McGee, an avid cycler himself, said this is one of the events he looks forward to every year. Close to 1,000 riders of varying ages, experience and abilities gather every year at the Ridgeland Recreation Center at Old Trace Park.
Organizers estimate it is the largest spring cycling event in the state. Riders can choose between five distances to ride starting at eight miles and topping out at 100.
McGee said he has pledged to ride 62 miles.
Registration for the ride continues through Friday, May 5, though organizers warn participants must have been registered by April 1 in order to ensure a t-shirt and swag bag.
The Sante South Food and Wine Festival will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School on May 6, from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event benefits the MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
“The ticketed festival offers wine enthusiasts the opportunity to speak with vintners from around the world while sampling dozens of their creations,” Organizers said. “Paired with food from the state’s top restaurants, Santé South is a culinary showcase for a great cause.”
A full schedule of events is available at artwineandwheels.com. Tickets are available for the wine festival at santesouth.org.