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NEW WATERFORD -- American playwright Carson McCullers once said "next to music, beer is best." The success of the New Waterford Beer, Wine, and Music Festival has proven McCullers' words true and village officials are expecting this year's festival, which marks the third year for the event, to be the biggest yet.
The two-day festival will be held at the village park from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free and attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and enjoy the show, craft beer, local wines and food. Food and drinks are available for purchase with no outside food or alcohol permitted.
The event began two years ago as a way to bring money into the village -- last year's proceeds paid for new playground equipment -- but has grown to be one of the biggest attractions in Columbiana County while supporting locally-owned businesses. Beer from breweries in Columbiana -- Sundog Cellars, Ill Will Brewings and Birdfish -- will be featured as will brews from Aeonian Brewing in Alliance. McKim's Honeyvine and Winery in East Palestine and L'uva Bella Winery in Lowellville will also set up shop at the festival. Products from Fat Heads, a staple on the southside of Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati's Urban Artifact will also be available. Local food vendors include the Risi Food Company, 330 BBQ & Catering, Ice-O and Ziggy's.
Music gets under way when The Dudes take the stage on Friday. Freebird, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, will close Friday's festivities. Saturday begins with Under the Gun, Devil's Garden and Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik -- a tribute to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Headliners Bonfire -- an AC/DC tribute band -- will close the festival for the third year in a row.
"It's a good time for a good cause," New Waterford Village Administrator Jason Gorby said. "We came up with the idea three years ago when we were looking for a way to raise some money to put back into the community and it just took off from there."
Proceeds from the festival will benefit New Waterford Friends, an organization to support community projects in the village.