The Woodstock Film Festival won’t be back in town until October, but in the meantime it’s gearing up for the 14th annual event this fall with a fundraising “Taste of Woodstock” on Wednesday, May 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Woodstock Film Festival and the Hudson Valley Film Commission, who are in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds to transform the film center at 13 Rock City Road to make the Festival more easily accessible to visitors.
Taste of Woodstock is the inaugural event of what may become an annual tradition. Participants who purchase tickets receive a wristband enabling them to stroll around town and try samples of cuisine at over 20 participating area restaurants and other venues that will host edibles from the restaurants that are too far to walk to.
Tickets cost $50 if purchased before Friday, May 10 or $70 advance purchase after that date, available online at ulsterpub.staging.wpenginefilmfestival.com. Tickets on the day of the event will cost $80.
The routes to follow will be marked on the map received at the start of the event at the 13 Rock City Road film office. Event organizer and Film Festival Board member Laurel Andretta says that there’ll be a wine- and beer-tasting there, and then people can follow the routes laid out to sample appetizer-size portions from restaurateurs and businesses that include Bread Alone, Blue Mountain Bistro, Oriole9, Cucina, Garden Café on the Green, New World Home Cooking, Yum Yum Noodle Bar, Mountain Gate Indian Restaurant, the Red Onion, Little Apple, Woodstock Wines & Liquors, Sunfrost Farms, Joshua’s Café, Sunflower Natural Foods Market, Catskill Mountain Pizza, Corner Cupboard, Giovanni’s Pizza Grill and Landau Grill.
Radio Woodstock 100.1 WDST will play music all evening in the Village Green, and water will be provided by the Binnewater Ice Company. Beer will be donated by Keegan Ales, and all of the participating venues are donating the food, says Andretta. As an added incentive to hit all the participating spots, those who do so will vote at the end of the evening for their favorites, and will be entered into a raffle to win two tickets to each of the parties held Thursday through Saturday nights during the Woodstock Film Festival in October.
The funds raised will help the Woodstock Film Festival continue to premiere exceptional films, host emerging and established professionals in the movie industry and create stimulating, innovative programming year-round. Proceeds will enable necessary renovations to the film office, where they can now hold workshops, meetings, casting calls and have a box office open year-round for merchandise.
Taste of Woodstock, Wednesday, May 22, 6-9 p.m., $50-$80,Woodstock Film Festival and Hudson Valley Film Commission office, 13 Rock City Road, Woodstock; (845) 810-0131, ulsterpub.staging.wpenginefilmfestival.com.
Join the family! 
