By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

It blew into town like the winds that accompanied it, the Third Annual Van Alstyne Wine Festival. What didn’t blow in were the heavy rains and thunderstorms that preceded Saturday and which were predicted, although with less chance than the days before, to have occurred also on Saturday. Van Alstyne’s Parks & Recreation Event Coordinator Kandi Hessel said early Saturday morning that it was a “rain or shine” event. Turns out, it was also a “wind doesn’t matter” event, also.

There were more than 30 vendors in all, including several wineries, and one beer distillery, the 3 Nations Brewery of Anna. Another, the new and local Dowling Distillery, had a sign posted, pointing toward and inviting  participants to wander over to the facility on South Main Street.

The wineries in attendance and allowing samples (to those who had previously proved their ages via IDs while purchasing their wine-tasting tickets) were: Cooley Bay Winery, Landon Winery, Eden Hill Winery & Vineyard, Wall Street Winery and Neighbors Place Winery.

The band providing great background music was the Diamond West Band, with its lead singer belting out some good covers of Dolly Parton and many other national hit-makers.

Perhaps the most active/best attended vendor/sponsor was Adon Complete A/C, which provided not only information about their sales and services, but also a football throw game, a caricature artist, giveaways including corkscrews, and lots of friendly hugs and howdys. Most vendors also supplied warm howdys, and those were warmly returned by the many attendees who joined in the fun Saturday. Many also provided freebies, such as The Crazy Red Rooster which gave away koozies with purchases.

Hessel said there were an estimated 500 people in attendance. She added that there will be a 4th Annual Wine Festival, but it won’t be in April, with its many ‘April Showers.’ So, the public can count on attending a future local wine festival.