If the temperature outside has you longing for a vacation, why not plan a “Staycation” at the 2016 Lake Oconee Food & Wine Festival.

March 18 and 19 is the perfect weekend to ring in spring here at Lake Oconee while celebrating great local food, entertainment, fabulous wine, beer and spirits.

The beautiful Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee will again be the venue for all the weekend events, which will kick off on Friday evening, March 18, with the Launch Party sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Athens. Dance the night away to the Ronnie Pittman Band and relax in our ultra-hip lounge provided by Black Sheep Interiors. Cocktails will be prepared by Bullet Bourbon Mixologist and an excellent vintage wine from Napa Valley’s Sherwin Family Winery will be featured.

Also, on Friday evening, sponsors of this year’s festival will enjoy a memorable dinner hosted by Wine Enthusiast 2015 American Winery of the Year – Justin Winery. As an additional treat, diners will hear firsthand about the award-winning winery from Joseph Spellman, MS, one of only 200 Master Sommeliers in America. Spellman has honed his skills since 1979, principally as a sommelier, in Chicago’s top restaurant cellars, including Tango, Maxim’s, The Pump Room, The Park Hyatt Hotel, and Charlie Trotter’s. Spellman along with Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee Executive Chef Andy Litherland will pair an outstanding five-course meal with Justin’s Reserve Wines.

The festival continues Saturday with a good-ole southern BBQ served in a beautiful setting overlooking Lake Oconee. The inaugural Brew & Que sponsored by Athen’s own Terrapin Brewery will offer an excellent array of traditional barbeque prepared by local chefs. Pair it with ice cold Terrapin, and country music from Eatonton’s own Matt Rogers voted Nashville’s 2015 Georgia Country Artist of the Year, and you are in for a memorable afternoon.

The festival’s spectacular finale will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday with The Grand Tasting. More than 150 different wines will be showcased along with tastings from local and regional chefs including The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Blu Culina, Harbor Club, Cuscowilla, Reynolds, da Carrodo Ristorante, Smith’s Coastal Grill and from Athens – The Last Resort. The festival will also welcome for the first time Guinness and Terrapin Beers plus ice cold treats from the King of Pops. Thomas Arvid, world renowned painter of all things wine, will be our very special guest demonstrating his remarkable skills and offering his exquisite wine themed art.

Make plans for an unforgettable local weekend. Tickets are available at www.oconeefoodandwine.com. Select a weekend pass and enjoy it all or plan your weekend around individual events. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is offering a special weekend package that makes your “Staycation” easy as can be.