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Morning Call: 7 great Lehigh Valley food events in July
July 3rd, 2018 | In The News
Written by Jennifer Sheehan for The Morning Call
You’ll love July if you consider yourself a foodie like I do.
The seventh month of the year is jam-packed with delicious events — from new festivals to longstanding summer traditions, from anniversary celebrations to cooking classes.
We picked seven July events you might want to consider.
1 SangriaFest
Two sessions, 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. July 14 at SteelStacks, Bethlehem
SteelStacks’ annual celebration of a summer wine cocktail is back for a third year.
Sangria is a cocktail made from wine, fruit, juice or other carbonated beverage and sometimes another liquor like brandy. A traditional sangria is made with red wine — “Sangria” is the Spanish word for bleeding — but other wines and add-ins can be used in a sangria.
You can try 10 different styles, all made with wines from South Italy Imports. Among the types of sangria you’ll be able to sample:
Sucker Punch with Primitivo red wine, lime juice, rum and fruit.
Zen featuring Chardonnay white wine with peaches, apricots, pomegranate juice and brandy.
SangriaFest also has fun and games such as bocce courts, beanbags and quoits and music by Tioga, the Billy Bauer Band and Flowers for Taco. If you get hungry, you can head to the food trucks.
There will be two sessions: 1-4 p.m., with a VIP experience noon-1 p.m. (VIP access ticket required); and 6-9 p.m., with VIP 5-6 p.m. You get a commemorative wine glass exiting the event.
Tickets on sale. $34 in advance, $39 at door; $30 in advance, $35 at door for ArtsQuest members; VIP: $69 in advance, $79 at door; $65 in advance, $75 at door VIP for ArtsQuest members.
Info: steelstacks.org, 610-332-3378.
2 Bethlehem Vegfest
11 a.m.-6 p.m. July 14, 100 W. Lehigh St., Bethlehem
Bethlehem VegFest is back for its eighth year at a new location, Daniel Rice Field. The event celebrates vegan cuisine and culture. It’s one of the few such festivals held each year on the East Coast.
You’ll find cooking demonstrations, speakers, dozens of vendors specializing in sustainable living products, live music and more at the event, which annually draws more than 6,000 people.
The biggest (and best) feature is the food. You’ll find vegan and vegetarian vendors selling everything from snacks to sweets. You do not need to be vegetarian or vegan to enjoy the food and the festival.
Some of the food vendors include: Bechdolt Orchards, Blendlife, The Cinnamon Snail, Freakin’ Vegan, Heavenly Hot Dogs, Lehigh Valley Kombucha, Mo’Pweeze Bakery, OMG Smoothies, The Taza Truck, Vegan Treats
Info: bit.ly/2lcTUgO
3 Vynecrest Anniversary Weekend
11 a.m.-8 p.m. July 13; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 14 and 15, Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, 172 Arrowhead Lane, Breinigsville
The winery marks its 44th anniversary with a weekend of food, live music and wine. It will have a large tent overlooking the vineyard, with music and food from the Fud Truk food truck. You can enjoy wine slushies and discounts on Vynecrest wine.
Info: bit.ly/2K5lIl6
4 The Art of Sushi 101
6-9 p.m. July 20, Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St.
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make sushi? Here’s your chance. Chef Christopher Bavlinka, owner of The Stone Soup in Allentown, will show the basics of sushi making. You’ll learn how to make rice, cut fish and vegetables, roll sushi, and learn the ingredients needed to make Maki Sushi. You’ll also get to eat what you prepare.
How much: $55 per person. Info, tickets: bit.ly/2tm16uA
5 Blueberry Festival
10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 22, Burnside Plantation, Bethlehem
It’s the 31st year for this summer tradition, celebrating all things blueberry and hosted by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.
The biggest draw is all the amazing blueberry-centric food you can enjoy. Here’s a taste:
Sweet and savory crepes from Crepe Soleil
Blueberry kombucha from Lehigh Valley Kombucha
Fresh blueberries from local farms
Blueberry ice cream
Blueberry coffee cake, strudel and pierogis
The blueberry theme carries over to drinks as well. In the Blueberry Brewery Tasting Tent, you can sample blueberry beer, wine, mead and Blueberry Mules from Shangy’s, Cardinal Hollow Winery, 8 Oaks Distillery and the 14th Fret Brewing Co. In the Upper and Lower Brewery Tents, you can buy full servings of wine from Cardinal Hollow Winery, beer from Two Rivers Brewing and Blueberry Mules by 8 Oaks Distillery.
If you have a bottomless stomach you can try the annual Pie-Eating Contest for kids and adults. It will be 2:15 p.m. both days at the Community Stage. (You’ll need to sign up for the contest at the info tent.)
You can take part in the new Blueberry Jam Open Mike 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Each performer can perform two songs; sign-ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Read to Dogs program is back in the Lower Haas Barn, where children can read to friendly therapy dogs in a quiet setting. Kids can bring a favorite book to read or choose from a selection provided in the barn. Kids will love family activities including: pony rides, a petting zoo, making a pet bandana, dressing in Colonial clothes and playing Colonial games, and creating sand art, hex signs and Moravian paper dolls.
Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. You can also enter your pet, wearing his or her best blueberry-themed costume, in the Pet Parade costume contest.
How much: $10; $5, kids; $10 for four Blueberry Brewery tastings. Online-only admission specials include: $25 for a family four-pack; $20 for Blueberry Brewery Combo that includes six brewery tastings. Registration for the Pet Parade is free but does not include admission.
Info: 800-360-TOUR, HistoricBethlehem.org.
6 Zucchini 500
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., July 21, Easton’s Centre Square
Where else can you go and let your kids play with their food? The Easton Farmers Market will host its 12th annual Zucchini 500, featuring the opportunity to make race cars and other vehicles out of zucchini.
You pay $5 and you get a choice of zucchini, wheels and axles, commemorative racing necklace, and access to carving tools and accessories, with expert assistance from the Zuke 500 Pit Crew.
You have 9-10:45 a.m. to carve your car; the race begins at 11 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest car in each category: Sports Car, Mid-Size and Monster Truck. Cars may be pre-carved but wheels must be attached directly to the zucchini. Chassis or platforms of any sort are prohibited.
Info: eastonfarmersmarket.com/event/zucchini-500
7 Everything Outdoors Food Truck Festival
Noon-6 p.m. July 28, Walnutport Playground, 215 Lincoln Ave.
Enjoy the outdoors and dine at the same time at the first Everything Outdoors Food Truck Festival. There will be live music by Free Range Folk and vendors to peruse.
Food trucks scheduled to attend include: Stuffed to the Grills, Kona Ice, Worldly Q, Grumpy’s BBQ, Ziggy’s Roasters, KCL’s Great Food on the Go, Around the Table Catering.
Info: bit.ly/2M51a9U
