At Purina Farms’ International Cheese, Wine & Canine Festival, Your Next Night on the Town Goes Global
Kid-free evenings are few and far between, so you have to make the most of them. Instead of spending yet another girls’ night or date night at your local happy hour spot, why not shake it up with a trip around the world that still gets you home in time to tuck in your little ones?
On Saturday, September 28, Purina Farms in Gray Summit will hold its fifth International Cheese, Wine & Canine Festival, giving you and your friends the chance to enjoy cuisine from a variety of countries while meeting the incredible dogs who originally called these far-off locales home.
According to Kaite Flamm, senior manager of programming for Purina Farms, the Festival lets the popular attraction play matchmaker for the night, helping those adults hoping to give a dog a forever home find the one that best fits their family.
“Being Purina Farms and being very pet-centric, we get a lot of questions from our guests who visit about what breed would be right for their family if they are considering getting one from a breeder or adopting from a shelter or rescue,” explained Flamm. “They ask questions about the characteristics of each breed, what kind of grooming is required based on their coats, how big they will get or how small they will stay. With all the questions we get each week, we thought a meet-the-breeds event would be beneficial to our guests looking for a pet.”
During the Festival, party-goers can stop by booths hosted by local AKC clubs to discover the history, traits, temperaments, and abilities of today’s most popular and most unique canines, both purebred and mixed. From Chinese Shar-Peis and Australian Shepherds to African Greyhounds and the All-American mutt, you’ll meet these pups face-to-face to learn more about them on both a breed and an individual level. You can also vote for your favorite display at the People’s Choice Best of Breed Booth.
Even if you’re not searching for a new furry family member right now, you can still enjoy a night of nonstop excitement. Sample local wines from Augusta and Montelle wineries and savor an international smorgasbord of cheeses, flatbread pizzas and desserts. Throughout the evening, cultural performances, including hula dancing and German dancing, take center stage.
This highly-anticipated festival is one more way Purina Farms offers something for everyone, regardless of age.
Said Flamm, “There are a lot of adults who don’t have kids who have never been to Purina Farms. For the most part, our Visitor’s Center is geared toward families with small children. But there’s so much more we offer. It doesn’t matter if you have kids or not, it doesn’t matter if you have dogs and cats or not. This is just one of the many events we host that any adult can come to and just be a pet lover, even if you’re not a pet owner.”
The International Cheese, Wine & Canine Festival will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Purina Farms’ Indoor Purina Event Center. All event guests must be 18 years or older to attend. Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 at the door, and include nine wine samples, one full glass of wine, buffet, a keepsake wine glass, and event photo. Tickets for designated drivers and non-drinkers are $25. To purchase your tickets, visit purinafarms.com.
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Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
