Wine tour over 3 weekends
17 area wineries open on Canal Country Trail. Or take a cookie trip
are featured on the Canal Country Jolly Holly Trail, a self-guided tour of 17 area wineries.
The tour begins this weekend, from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and continues at the same times Dec. 12 and 13, and 19 and 20. For $35 per person or $45 per couple, the tour includes stops at 17 wineries in Canal Country, with appetizers, wine sampling and winery tours along the way. Participants also receive a Schott Zwiesel wine glass and can collect 15 ornaments to hang on a 15-inch Christmas tree.
Only 300 tickets will be sold and all tickets must be purchased in advance. Each ticket is good for all three weekends. To purchase a ticket, or for information, including a list of participating wineries, visit http://www.ohiowines.org or call 800-227-6972.
Cookies in Amish country
If you're heading to Amish country this weekend, you can take part in some progressive cookie eating in Holmes County.
Seven inns will open their doors for visitors to explore their holiday decorations and eat treats on the Christmas Cookie Tour of Inns, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Guests will receive a souvenir guide directing them to the inns, where each will serve up a signature cookie and offer the recipe. Local musicians will entertain along the way.
Participating inns are the Carlisle Inn at Walnut Creek, the Lamplight Inn, Maria's B&B, the Barn Inn, the Inn at Honey Run, the Guggisberg Inn and Hilltop Manor. Some inns also will offer cookies for sale.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children, with all proceeds benefiting the Hospice of Holmes County.
For advance tickets, call the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce at 330-674-3975. Ticket sales are limited. If the event is not sold out, tickets will be available at the door for $25 for adults and $12 for children.
Get more cookies on Saturday when Heini's Gourmet Market in Sugar Creek hosts its holiday open house and Great Holiday Cookie Bakeoff. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, you can vote for your favorite cookie, sample holiday treats and make Christmas cookie ornaments.
Heini's is at state Routes 39 and 93 in Sugarcreek. For information, call 330-852-3500 or visit http://www.heinisgourmetmarket.com.
Bubbly in West Akron
West Point Market is hosting its annual Champagne Tasting Saturday in the store's wine shop. From noon to 4 p.m., attendees will have the chance to sample more than 20 champagnes and sparkling wines from around the world.
The event is $25. Tickets can be purchased in the wine shop on the day of the event.
The tasting is part of the Holiday Open House, which will include food samplings from noon to 3 p.m. throughout the store. West Point Market is at 1711 W. Market St., Akron.
Wine in the Falls
Wines of northern Italy will be featured at a dinner at Piatto Novo at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls next Wednesday, Dec. 10. The wines will be paired with a five-course dinner crafted by chef Roger Thomas.
The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $65, plus tax and tip. For reservations, call 330-920-7530. Piatto Novo is at 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls.
Free burritos
Hudson is getting a Chipotle Mexican Grill. The gourmet burrito restaurant will begin serving at 5 Atterbury Blvd. on Friday.
To celebrate, the eatery will host a free burrito day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Customers will receive a free burrito and soft drink just for stopping by.
The restaurant's hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The phone number is 330-342-0669.
Winter markets coming
Akron will host a winter farmers market Dec. 13 and 14 in the basement of the former O'Neil's department store building. There will be wine, crafts, pastries, jams, jellies and other products for purchase.
The markets run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The former O'Neil's building is on North Main Street in downtown Akron, next to Lock 3 Park, where the summer markets are held.
Kent's Haymaker Farmers Market also will hold two indoor holiday markets. The first one is Saturday and the next one is Dec. 13. Both markets are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 26 local farmers and bakers will be at the Kent markets, which will be held in the large garage attached to the law offices of Williams, Welser and Kratcoski, 11 S. River St., in downtown Kent. Parking is in the lot adjacent to the market on River Street.