Leave it to the creative team at Middletown Main Street to continually come up with creative and entertaining events that bring the entire community together.

On the heels of the explosion in popularity of craft breweries and locally-made wines, Middletown Main Street is sponsoring the inaugural Grapes and Grains Wine & Beer Festival, which will be held on May 2, on North Scott Street, between West Main Street and West Lake Street, in the heart of historic Downtown Middletown. The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the rain date will be May 3.

Created as a fundraiser that will assist several programs and initiatives in the community, the Grapes and Grains Wine & Beer Festival will invite visitors to enjoy refreshing products offered by some of the best breweries, wineries and distilleries that Delaware has to offer.

Among those companies participating at the festival are the Crow Vineyard & Winery; New Belgium Brewing; Mispillion River Brewing; Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company; Painted Stave Distilling; and 3rd Wave Brewing Company.

In addition to the many breweries, wineries and distilleries, several local companies will serve as sponsors of the festival – including The Barn Creative, Fromage Cheese Boutique; Peachtree Station; Amber Shader Photography; Femme Fatale Boutique; Elayne James Salon; Purple Sage Herbs & Gifts; Alpaca Signs and Designs; and Waste Masters Solutions.

What Middletown festival is complete without music? Throughout the day, festival goers will be able to enjoy a glass or two while enjoying the talents of the Three Sheets Acoustic Trio, comprised of Marc Tomlinson, Dave C. Matthews and Chris Lewis. Self-proclaimed as the “Kings of Requests,” the band has become well-known in Delaware for its acoustic party rock style of performing.

Tickets include admission to the festival; a sampler mug; unlimited samples of wine, beer and spirits; and access to to food vendors, where food can be purchased. Those traveling to the festival by car can park on Main Street or any side street in Downtown Middletown, as well as in the municipal lot at Town Hall, the Forest Church lot, or across the street from the fire hall on South Scott Street.

Sponsorship packages for the festival are available that range from $300 to $1,000, that entitle sponsors to have their display banner and logo prominently displayed throughout the festival grounds, as well as complimentary tickets and their company name mentioned throughout the event. To obtain your tickets to the festival, visit www.GrapesandGrainsDE.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].