Got Cabin Fever? So does Corning & the Finger Lakes! Come be a part of it!

Well, it’s officially cold. With this unusual winter we’ve been having, I’ve actually been quite surprised to find frost on my car and a nip in the air in the mornings. I thought we might be skipping over this season and going straight to spring.

That said, you might find it strange that I’m now going to encourage you to go to this awesome event where you wander in the cold from business to business. But trust me. If you need more than the fun and excitement to keep you warm, the fantastic Finger Lakes wine you’ll be sipping should certainly do the trick.

Admit it. Even though it’s been an unusually warm winter, you’ve got just a hint of Cabin Fever! You’re about to get a lot more of it on Friday, February 10, when you attend the Gaffer District event. Now in its ninth year, Cabin Fever is a great tasting event that allows you to stroll through Corning’s Gaffer District and sip wine and beer from more than 20 of Finger Lakes Wine Country’s finest wineries and breweries!

“Cabin Fever has continued to grow in popularity because it comes at just the right time – in the middle of winter!” said Mike Melaro, director of Marketing and Communications for Corning’s Gaffer District. “Each year, more than 500 people attend this evening wine and beer tasting to celebrate the great bounty of the Finger Lakes region. With a free limousine shuttle and wineries in every block, most of the time is spent inside – so winter is not a problem!”

For $15 per person, you’ll receive a collectible beer glass and wine glass and will have access to unlimited tastings throughout the district businesses and restaurants. From 5-8 p.m., wander up and down Market and Bridge streets to visit businesses with wine tastings set up inside. Chat with the servers, and keep a list of your favorites to purchase later on. That’s what I did when I attended the tasting portion of a similar event in the Gaffer District, Jazz and Harvest Festival, in the fall. I took some notes and ended my evening with a visit to Bottles and Corks on Market Street to pick up the ones I liked best.

Keuka Lake winery Heron Hill is excited to be participating again this year. “We'll be pouring Riesling and other samples at Pure Design on Market Street,” said Kitty Oliver, Marketing and PR Director for Heron Hill Winery. “We enjoy doing regional events like this and our fans and guests love being able to taste a wide array of what the Finger Lakes have to offer. With over 20 other Finger Lakes wineries & breweries taking part, Market Street is the place to be on February 10th from 5-8pm!"

Other great wineries include Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, Lakewood Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Red Newt Cellars, Standing Stone Vineyards and Hickory Hollow Wine Cellars.

Make sure to pre-order your tickets to avoid a wait in line. The Information Center of Corning (1 West Market Street) now has tickets on sale, which can be paid for with cash or by credit card. Check-in locations and “at-the-door” tickets will be available in three locations this year: The Information Center of Corning, the Radisson Hotel Corning (125 Denison Parkway E.), and The Site Cyber Bar and Grill (65 Bridget St.). Check-in time is between 5 and 7 p.m. Cabin Fever is limited to individuals ages 21 and older with a valid photo ID.

You can RSVP to Cabin Fever on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest information!

Leave a comment below about a fun past Cabin Fever experience, or why you’re excited about attending this year, and our favorite will win (2) passes to the event!