The USA TODAY Wine & Food Experience: Palm Desert is coming up. Here's what to know
USA TODAY's signature dining event is returning to the desert.
But this time, Palm Desert will play host to the experience. If you're interested in attending, here's everything to know, from what vendors to expect to how to snag tickets.
What is the Wine & Food Experience: Palm Desert?
Last year, USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures brought its touring culinary experience to the Coachella Valley for the first time. The one-day food and wine festival celebrated many of the most popular chefs and restaurants in the desert, giving local businesses such as King's Highway, BaBaLoo Lounge, Mica's Soul Kitchen, Perfect Pint and many more the opportunity to offer guests a taste of what to expect if they became a customer.
This year, the festival has been moved to the mid valley, encouraging desert locals from both east and west valley cities to come together for a day of unlimited samples of food, wine and craft beers as well as demonstrations by chefs, sommeliers and mixologists.
Who is participating this year?
The list is continually being updated, but so far, participating businesses include:
BaBaLoo Lounge
Melvyn's Restaurant
Chi Chi Restaurant at The Avalon
Boozehounds
King’s Highway
Trattoria Tiramisu
Your Sous Chef
Perfect Pint
Anna’s Temptations Granola
Mediterranean Table
Mica’s Soul Kitchen
Goufrais Southern California – Cocoa Confections
California Fish Grill
BuzzBall Cocktails
LaCroix Sparkling Water
Nia Ruth Wine Club
Rancho la Gloria
Frey Ranch Distillery
Ketcham Estate Winery
Dough Ball Cookie Dough Whiskey
Ventura Spirits
American Harvest Vodka
Predator Wines
Beach Whiskey
When does the event take place?
The ticketed event, which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 9, will offer attendees a behind-the-scenes look into the culinary world.
There are two entry times depending on what kind of ticket you have, but regardless, the event runs until 4 p.m.:
Noon: VIP ticket holder entry
1 p.m.: Grand Tasting ticket holder entry
Where will it be held? And is parking available?
The one-day culinary extravaganza will be held at Civic Center Park, 43-900 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert. The 70-acre park features ample free parking, and the majority of spots are found at the lot on the corner of Fred Waring Drive and San Pablo Avenue (in front of the Palm Desert City Hall).
How much are tickets, and how do I purchase them?
Grand Tasting (general admission) early bird tickets are now available for $60 each. Ticket price increases to $65 on July 26 and $80 on the day of the event.
VIP early bird tickets are available for $95 each. Ticket price increases to $100 on July 26 and $115 on the day of the event.
VIP tickets get you:
All benefits included in the Grand Tasting – unlimited samplings, tasting of fine wines, craft beer and other liquor, and access to The Culinary Demonstration Stage
Access to the VIP Lounge
Early entry at noon to allow access to the event prior to general admission attendees
TalkTales Entertainment mixology classes: Led by industry pros, these immersive demonstrations will equip you with next-level mixology mastery to elevate your cocktail skills
Tickets can be purchased at wineandfood.usatoday.com/palmdesert.
How does the event give back to the community?
A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit FIND Food Bank. FIND Food Bank is the Desert’s Regional Food Bank, serving the greater Coachella Valley for over 40 years. FIND’s hunger relief programs provide support to the food insecure children, families and seniors throughout the community, and even reaches rural areas of the valley via 45 Free Mobile Market distributions. The organization feeds, on average, 150,000 people each month.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The ultimate guide to the Wine & Food Experience: Palm Desert
