15th Annual Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival Raises More than $18,000 for Local Organizations, Supports Local Businesses

The 15th Annual Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, hosted by The Chamber of Gettysburg & Adams County on September 7 & 8, promoted Pennsylvania wine, supported local businesses and boosted the area economy all while raising more than $18,000 for local organizations.

Attendees sampled and purchased thousands of bottles of wine from 27 Pennsylvania wineries, enjoyed offerings from more than 50 food and craft vendors and danced to the region’s best live music.

“The Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival started 15 years ago to support the local community,” said Jennifer McCleaf, event organizer. “This festival is a community effort so it only makes sense to give back to the non-profit organizations that make Adams County a great place to live, work and play.”

In addition to supporting activities of the non-profit The Chamber, other organizations benefiting from the festival include:

  • Optimist Club of Gettysburg, more than $3,500 from festival attendees who donated for parking;
  • Adams Regional Emergency Medical Services, $1,500 for ambulance support;
  • Freedom Transit, $1,000 for transportation services;
  • Gettysburg Rocks, an organization that supports Penn State’s Four Diamonds Fund, $2,100 for support with music acts;
  • Biglerville High School Wrestling, $1,000 for their work during festival clean-up;
  • Apple City Leo Club, $250 for their work during festival clean-up;
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America, $281 donated by festival attendees;
  • Adams County Relay for Life, $500 for their work in the wine check area; and
  • Straban Township, with more than $8,000 in permitting and fees.

“Many of our festival attendees are visiting from other parts of Pennsylvania and other states. They help drive our local economy by booking hotel rooms, eating at local restaurants and shopping at local stores,” added McCleaf.

“The festival could not happen without the support of the many chamber member businesses that support the festival as vendors, volunteers or through financial and in-kind donations,” added McCleaf.

The festival was organized by a 15-member volunteer committee, with support from The Chamber staff. Additionally, over 150 local volunteers helped set up and operate the event.

Chamber member vendors included Brother Floyd’s Righteous Pickles, Lark, The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, Triple Ceez Chicken Wingz and UPMC Hanover.

Primary sponsors were Adams Electric Cooperative Inc., Atlantic Foot & Ankle Specialists, Event Central, Gateway Gettysburg, Green Mountain Energy, The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg and UPMC Hanover. Supporting local businesses included: Adams County Pour Tour, Comcast Business, Freedom Transit, Gettysburg Tour Center, Golf Cart Services, iNet Technology Group, Knouse Foods Cooperative, L&H Mechanical & Electrical Services, Quality Eicholtz, Schmuck Lumber Company, Staff Amusements, Tulpehocken Spring Water and Waste Management.

The 2020 Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival is set for Sept. 12-13. For more information, visit www.gettysburgwine.com or call 717-334-8151. Find the festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GettysburgWineAndMusicFestival.