Drink up at the Toast of Ohio

WHAT: Toast of Ohio Wine Festival

WHEN: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Aug. 16

WHERE: Sandusky Bay Pavillion in downtown Sandusky

COST: A $1 admission fee and varying costs per vendor starting at $3. Food ranges from $1-5. 

INFO: 419-624-0274

It shouldn't be a surprise that when you pair wine and food in a beautiful setting, people want to show up.

So when it came time to plan the fifth annual Toast of Ohio, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Aug. 16 at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion, organizers decided this was the year to expand.

“We wanted to expand the focus to not just food and wine but the wonderful arts organizations we have in our community," said Merry-Go-Round Museum Executive Director Veronica Vandenbout. "We’ve been working with various artists through other projects and wanted to give them another place to show off their talents.

Created as a co-fundraiser by the Maritime Museum of Sandusky and Merry-Go-Round Museum, the Toast of Ohio has come a long way from its meager beginnings. 

“We’re hoping it’s going to grow this year,” Vandenbout said. “And with the support of the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, we’ve just expanded every year. We started out downtown on Columbus Avenue, and grew from that one block event to almost two blocks. Now we have moved down to the Sandusky Pavilion to give us some room to grow.

Vandenbout said the event now attracts between 4,000 and 5,000 people, with the idea being to continue to increase that number. Aside from local restaurants offering gourmet samples and live music, from such groups as the Bare Bones Jazz Quartet, and theatrical readings from the Harlequins Theatre, it’s the vino that acts as the magnetic element of this celebration.  

“The Toast of Ohio is a wine event focused on Ohio wineries," said Vandenbout. 

Among the Buckeye State wineries attending Toast of Ohio are Firelands Winery, Hermes Vineyards, Quarry Hill Winery, Mon Ami, Matus Winery, Meier's Wine Cellars, Stoney Ridge Winery, Chalet Debonne, It’s Your Winery, Ferrante Winery, Breitenbach Wine Cellars, Viking Vineyards & Winery, Raven’s Glenn Winery, Maize Valley Winery and St. Joseph Vineyard.

Said Vandenbout, “It’s an opportunity to experience the wonderful qualities Ohio wines offer as well as to try several restaurants you possibly haven’t tried before in one of the most beautiful settings on the North Coast.”