Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism to host Alabama Wine Festival at Noccalula Falls on Sept. 20
Summary
Greater Gadsden Area Tourism announced it will partner with Noccalula Falls Park to host the fifth annual Alabama Wine Festival during Art on the Rocks on Sept. 20, with $5,000 in state grant funding supporting printed marketing materials.
Tina Morrison, executive director of Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, told the Gadsden City Council the organization will partner with Noccalula Falls Park to host the fifth annual Alabama Wine Festival during Art on the Rocks on Sept. 20. The festival will feature Alabama wineries, art, live music and food trucks, with general admission priced at $25 and a VIP option at $50 that includes an al fresco dinner in the park’s botanical garden.
The festival, which Morrison said had outgrown its previous home at Wills Creek Winery, will be limited to Alabama wineries to spotlight in-state producers. Morrison said she received a $5,000 grant from Alabama Tourism to pay for printed rack cards and that a landing page and ticket links will be published from greatergadsden.com with tickets sold through Noccalula Falls’ website. She said general admission tickets will be available at the gate and that the tasting garden will be age-restricted and require ID checks and wristbands.
Council members thanked Morrison and Wills Creek Winery for prior years’ hosting and encouraged the tourism office to provide marketing support. No formal council action or vote was taken on the announcement; the item was presented as a recognition/special guest report during proclamations and recognitions.
Morrison characterized the event as agritourism intended to promote small Alabama vineyards and said a VIP dinner would follow park closing, with tickets sold online to help cater the meal. She said the festival will be part of a broader marketing campaign and that staff will provide printed rack cards and an online landing page to support promotion.
The presentation included logistical details (ticket prices, VIP dinner, ID checks) and marketing plans but did not include any new city expenditures, contractual commitments, or ordinance changes. Council members expressed general support and offered to assist with marketing efforts.
