The Second Annual “Novel” Wine Tasting, Arts, and Literary Festival was held on Saturday, October 25, at September Oaks Vineyards in Ridgeland. September Oaks is owned by Grady and Evie Woods, and managed by Ted and Louisa Videki. The festival was founded by Beaufort authors Jack Gannon and Cyndi Williams-Barnier. This year’s special guest was Miss South Carolina 2014 Lanie Hudson.
Gannon and Williams-Barnier are also contracted authors under PDMI Publishing of Albertville, Alabama. They began the Festival last year as a local venue for local authors, new and veteran, to meet the public and make new friends and fans. This year the Festival was expanded to add creative arts and music. As a result, over 70 authors and artists from not only Beaufort and Jasper counties but from across the state and the eastern half of the United States set up booths on the winery’s main public grounds between rows of grapevines.
Saturday’s festival brought in approximately 1,000 visitors to meet authors, painters, photographers, artists who create works by using wood or metal or glass or gems, historic re-enactors, musicians, chefs, and more, and especially to participate in wine tastings within the September Oaks winery. Teenage classic violinist Murphey Alexandra from Lexington serenaded customers who relaxed in the outdoor room of the winery and banjoist Maggie Rogers of Beaufort performed a variety of songs at the main stage gazebo.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans Charles Jones Colcock Camp 2100 of Ridgeland not only participated in the living history on the grounds but also sold lunches to festival attendees. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment Company 1 of Charleston joined in the living history and regaled the audience with stories.
For more information, visit www.jandcwordsmiths.com or www.septemberoaks.com.
