The Art Alliance of Idyllwild’s 22nd Annual Art Walk & Wine Tasting was popular Saturday as wine and art lovers walked to the multiple designated event areas throughout downtown and up North Circle Drive, reaching all the way up to The Fern Valley Emporium. Photos by Jenny Kirchner

The Art Alliance of Idyllwild (AAI) held its 22nd-annual Art Walk and Wine Tasting event last Saturday throughout town. Twenty-one different wineries from all over California participated along with multiple artists showing and selling their pieces. 

Tickets were required for the tastings, which included a keepsake wine glass with a unique 2019 design. Local musicians entertained the large crowd and a variety of cheese, crackers and grapes were available for all attendees while they mingled with other art and wine enthusiasts.

AAI’s Courtyard Gallery Manger Cynthia Grady spoke to the Town Crier Saturday afternoon about the event’s success. 

“We sold out online and sold all of these [pointing to a handwritten log of tickets sold] just today!” Grady said as she flipped through multiple pages of handwritten notes that documented the number of tickets sold at the gallery.

While AAI holds multiple events throughout the year, the Art Walk and Wine Tasting is one of their biggest and most well-attended events. Grady said, “The bulk of the money we raise from the wine walk is for education grants that help volunteer groups like smARTS at Idyllwild School and other annual events AAI does.”

If you’re interested in joining AAI, or want to see a list of upcoming events, visit https://artinidyllwild.wildapricot.org/.