Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday January 16, 2008
2008 WINTERFEST WILL “JAZZ UP” SUFFOLK’S WINE REGION
Contact: Pat Snyder, EEAC - 631 727-0900
Steve Bate, LI Wine Council - 631 722-2220
Kristen Matejka, LICVB - 631 951-3900
Dan Aug, SCED&WFH - 631 853-4000
**PHOTOS AVAILABLE**
2008 WINTERFEST WILL “JAZZ UP” SUFFOLK’S WINE REGION
RIVERHEAD, NY -(January 16, 2007)- Start planning your visit to the East End of Long Island Feb. 8 through Mar. 9, 2008 to enjoy a special series of great jazz performances, cultural attractions and programs, hotel and B&B getaway packages, restaurant specials, winery tastings and events, and limousine/wine tour special offers during Winterfest 2008.
Visit the official website of 2008 Winterfest at www.liwinterfest.com for all the latest events and special offers. Plan a Valentine’s getaway, or a girlfriends retreat, or a family escape. There’s something for everyone.
“JAZZ ON THE VINE” will be the theme of the 2008 Long Island Winterfest and will include jazz performances in winery tasting rooms every Saturday and Sunday afternoon over the five-week period, from Feb. 8- Mar. 9, 2008. The calendar already includes nearly fifty performances with FREE admission. Included among the performances is a very special appearance by David Amram, hailed by the Washington Post as “one of the most versatile and skilled musicians America has ever produced." Visit the www.liwinterfest.com website for schedule.
Also, Latin jazz great Papo Vazquez and his Pirates Troubadours band will kick off Winterfest 2008 at a special, ticketed performance at 8pm on Friday evening, February 8, presented by American Express. Visit www.liwinterfest.com or www.liwines.com to purchase tickets to this event, including a limited number of VIP passes.
Winterfest was conceived in 2006 to generate increased business on the East End of Suffolk County during the slowest part of the year by promoting a calendar of activities and specific offers. This will be the first time that Winterfest is adopting a particular musical theme. The jazz program is supplemented by special offers and promotions at businesses and cultural venues throughout Suffolk County.
According to Steve Bate, executive director of the Long Island Wine Council, “Wine and jazz is a natural match that will appeal to a large audience in the New York metropolitan area, across Long Island and into New England. The idea of sampling our fine wines in warm tasting rooms while listening to some great jazz music should appeal to many people looking for fun and interesting winter weekend destinations.”
"Suffolk County has been proactive in supporting regional arts programs and film festivals that show off the talent, natural wonders, and attractions that make our county a great place to visit and explore. We are proud to support Jazz on the Vine,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.
In addition to the jazz performances, area hotels, B&B’s restaurants, cultural venues and transportation companies have joined in to offer special rates, packages and other offers.
“Winterfest is a perfect time to plan a visit to Suffolk County because in addition to the great events planned, hotels and other area businesses are offering some wonderful promotions and getaway packages,” said Kristen Matejka, director of marketing at the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“The East End Arts Council is pleased to play a supporting role again in the upcoming Winterfest 2008,” says Pat Snyder, EEAC Executive Director “We look forward to providing opportunities to our area jazz musicians and other renowned artists to perform in the festival.”
"American Express is proud to sponsor the LI Winterfest for the second year in a row and we are excited to support the local businesses and artists through this great program,” said Maricar Block at American Express.
The 2008 Winterfest is being organized by the Long Island Wine Council, the East End Arts Council, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing, the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau and American Express, with additional support from WLIU Radio and Legislator Ed Romaine.
The Saturday and Sunday concerts will be free of charge, and tickets for the Papo Vazquez concert will be very reasonably priced. Visit www.liwinterfest.com.
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“JAZZ ON THE VINE” will be the theme of the 2008 Long Island Winterfest, which will run from Feb. 8 to Mar. 9, 2008 across the East End. The program will feature local jazz musicians performing at winery tasting rooms every weekend afternoon over the five-week period. The musical calendar will be supplemented by special offers and promotions at tourism-related businesses and cultural venues throughout the region. 2008 Winterfest events are being organized by the Long Island Wine Council, the East End Arts Council, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing, the Long Island Convention and Visitors Bureau with support from American Express and WLIU. Winterfest was conceived in 2006 to generate increased business on the East End during the slowest part of the year by promoting a calendar of activities and offers. The program has grown to include many businesses, but this will be the first time that the promotion is adopting a musical theme.
The Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission (LICVB&SC) is the official tourism promotion agency for the destination’s travel and tourism industry. Based on Long Island in Hauppauge, NY, the LICVB&SC contributes to the economic development and quality of life on Long Island by promoting the region as a world-class destination for tourism, meetings and conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and related activities. For more information about Long Island, please contact the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission by calling 1-877-386-6654 or visit www.discoverlongisland.com
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