ELLISON BAY, Door County, WI, May 31, 2016 – Door County North, the business association for far northern Door County – including Liberty Grove Township, Gills Rock and Rowleys Bay – has announced that the third annual Uncork Summer Food, Wine & Music Festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 10 am-5 pm and will once again be situated on the outdoor grounds of Wickman House, the renowned Ellison Bay restaurant.

Wickman House

Uncork Summer debuted in 2014 as a means to showcase the county’s top chefs in a single setting and to signify the start of the Door County summer tourism season. The event immediately reached a broad audience of foodies and has grown each subsequent year.

Uncork Summer will be held the same weekend as Ellison Bay’s decades-old family-oriented festival, Olde Ellison Bay Days, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016. Located outdoors on the beautiful grounds of the Wickman House on Mink River Road, the event will feature 20 food vendor booths, plus wines, local ciders, craft beers and unique hand-crafted cocktails. Well-known local acoustic musicians Katie Dahl (with Rich Higdon) and Small Forest (Jeanne Kuhns, Patrick Palmer, Marybeth Mattson), will perform live throughout the day.

This year’s Uncork Summer will also feature celebrity appearances and speaking engagements by Kyle Cherek, host of public television’s Wisconsin Foodie show; Terri Milligan, chef-owner of the former Inn at Kristofer’s in Sister Bay and now food writer for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; and Janice Thomas, owner-chef-teacher at The Savory Spoon Cooking School in Ellison Bay.

	Truffle Mac n Cheese featuring Nueske_s Applewood Smoked Bacon made by The Savory Spoon

Combining a natural manner with in-depth knowledge of farm-to-table dining and sustainability, Cherek will be present on the Uncork Summer grounds to meet attendees from 10 am-2 pm, and will give the event’s keynote address on the Uncork stage from 12:30-1:15 pm. Cherek’s presentation at Uncork is sponsored by Ministry Door County Medical Center. Chef Terri Milligan will present her food preparation demo from 1:30-2:00 pm, while Chef Janice Thomas will present her food preparation demo from 2:15-2:45 pm.

Door County North’s Community Coordinator, Mickie Rasch, said Uncork Summer has had a major impact on visitor awareness of the Ellison Bay-Gills Rock region. “There are so many things to do here, so many great restaurants and markets and retail shops, and Uncork Summer serves to introduce thousands of new visitors to the pleasures of our end of the county. It’s a little like the Door County of many decades ago, with its relative quiet and significant natural beauty,but now we have Internet service.” said Rasch. “Our businesses see the Uncork festival as the key opening event for the coming summer tourism season, throughout the entire county.”

Expansive free parking for Uncork Summer will be located at the Liberty Grove Historical Society property at the top of the Ellison Bay hill. The free trolley and shuttle ferry visitors from the parking areas and make stops at both Olde Ellison Bay Days’ shoreline site and Uncork Summer, on the Wickman House grounds.

Handcrafted Normandy-style hard cider made in Ellison Bay,WI

There is a minimal $5 admission fee, per person, to attend Uncork Summer. Tickets are available on-site for just $5 each, the price for individual small plate dishes and drinks, whether wines, ciders, beer or cocktails. Other beverages including coffee, water, soda, and cherry soda of course, are available for purchase in the market area along with popular locally made products.

Uncork Summer, Door County Food Wine Music Festival. Located at Wickman House, 11976 Mink River Road, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Date: June 25, 10 am-5 pm. For more info: 920.854.4450 Visit ww.uncorksummer.com  for an updated list of participating restaurants and other information and connect with us on facebook.com/uncorksummer for event information updates.