Prepare to Go ‘Mad’ for 5th Annual Wine Women & Shoes Fundraiser, Feb. 17-19

Wine, fashion, food and fun highlight Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s charity event

February 17 through 19 hundreds of fun-loving ladies and gents will go absolutely mad as hatters all along the Northwest Florida Gulf coast.

The fifth annual must-not-miss charity extravaganza is an artful weekend-long celebration of wine, fashion, food and fun benefitting Sinfonia Gulf Coast — the only fully professional non-profit orchestra on the Emerald Coast founded in 2005 by music and artistic director Demetrius Fuller.

As is tradition, the festive weekend kicks off on Friday, Feb. 17 with a stellar series of seven Vintner Dinners held in luxury homes, hotels and upscale restaurants along the Northwest Florida Gulf coast beginning at 6 p.m.

The fun factor steps up on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. with Bubbles, Brews & Culinary Qs presented by Smileology. Held in the Coastal Ballroom at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, guests can sip sparkling wines at the Bubbles Bar, locally crafted micro brews and ales by Grayton Beer Company, and tuck into delicious barbecue-inspired light bites while enjoying live music performed by funky bluesy fusion local favorite Dread Clampitt.

On Sunday, Feb. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. “sole sisters” and “sole mates” again kick up their heels on the ballroom level of the Hilton during the Signature Event, presented with support from Dermatology Specialists of Florida and Aqua Med Spa. The lively event — filled with wine and food tastings, retail shopping and live music performances — centers on a high-energy fashion show of the latest trends by Today’s Boutique and crescendos with a live auction of high-end lots of reserve wine, artful excursions, luxury travel trips and the like.

New this year is a Shoe Box Pull. For a donation of $50 you can select a wrapped shoebox filled with something fabulous valued between $50 and $1,000.

Tickets to Vintner Dinners are $275 per person and includes all food, wine and gratuities. Tickets to Bubbles, Brews & Culinary Qs are $35 per person. Tickets to the Signature Event are $100 per person and includes all food, wine, reserved table seating and valet parking.

Proceeds from the event benefit Sinfonia and its music education programs, which include: musicians/guest artists in schools, free orchestra concerts, bus transportation for students, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program, an Arts in Medicine initiative with Sacred Heart Hospital and LINK UP concerts with third through fifth graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Put your best foot forward and join Sinfonia’s team of volunteers. For more information, contact Elaine Tucker at (850) 460-8800.

Tickets for Wine Women & Shoes are limited, and events are expected to sell out, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

For more information or to purchase tickets for Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Wine Women & Shoes events, visit winewomenandshoes.com/sinfonia or call (850) 460-8800.