Two popular springtime drinking events in Wichita change course because of COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has affected so many things in Wichita, and now it’s getting in the way of some of spring’s longest running drinking events.
Organizers of two of them that would normally be happening around this time of year are having to regroup and come up with new plans.
One is the Midwest Winefest, an annual fundraiser for Guadalupe Clinic that usually happens in April and culminates with a grand tasting at Century II.
The event had been scheduled for April 23-25 this year, but that was in the middle of the statewide stay-at-home order, and Century II wasn’t even open. (It still isn’t.)
J.V. Johnston, who took over early this year as the executive director of the Guadalupe Clinic, said he’s hoping to still put on a version of the event, but it will likely be in the early fall.
He’s eyeing the last week of August, and it’s probable that the traditional Grand Tasting and the Old Town Walkabout, which usually happens the Thursday night of Winefest weekend, would be combined into one event.
Century II is mostly booked at that time, Johnston said, so he’s working on a location as well.
“The big question for everybody is, ‘When will they allow crowds over 1,000? Is it July? Is it January?’” he said. “We are trying to create a contingency plans so we have it planned out and if we are able to do it, we can just say ‘Go’ and it’s in motion.”
Another popular drink-driven fundraiser, Amber Waves, has changed its format completely for this year.
The event, a fundraiser for Starkey that each May sees big crowds wandering from business to business in Delano for beer samples, was supposed to happen this weekend. Last year, it attracted a crowd of 800 and raised $45,000 for Starkey.
But organizers have reworked the event in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of the walking tour, ticket holders can be part of a “grab-and-go” version of the event that is happening at Rolling Hills Wine & Spirits, 375 S. Maize Rd.
Anytime between Friday, when the event would have happened, and June 30, they can visit the store and choose six different beers and a bottle of Grace Hill wine in exchange for their tickets.
Organizers are still putting on the event’s “Golden Ticket” drawing, whose winner will get to choose between three different three-night vacation packages. Golden Tickets are $50 apiece and still available at amberwavesict.com. The drawing will be Friday.
For more information on the Grab-and-Go event, visit https://starkey.org/events/amber-waves or contact Eileen Ream, Events Coordinator, at 316-512-4173.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 3:28 PM.
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