Residents, Businesses Come Together To Save Dunedin Wines The Blues

DUNEDIN, FL — Casa Tina Fresh, Healthy, Authentic Mexican in Dunedin will host a fundraiser Monday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 10 p.m. to raise money to help save the annual Dunedin Wines the Blues event.

Casa Tina will donate 20 percent of all the evening's proceeds will go to the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association, which has hosted the popular Dunedin Wines the Blues event for 30 years.

The festival held on Main Street in Dunedin has become a signature event for the city. The festival features well-known blues artists and wine tastings, drawing thousands of visitors from around Tampa Bay.

However, in August, the merchants association announced on its Facebook page that it has been forced to cancel the event due to a lack of donations and sponsorships.

"After careful consideration and review of the realities of what is required to throw a successful Dunedin Wines the Blues and as much as it pains us to say this, the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association must forgo this year’s event," announced the association's president, Isaac Wasilefsky, owner of Chelsea’s Cashew Creamery in downtown Dunedin.

"Given the tough economic climate and rising costs that our organization and merchant membership face, the DDMA did not feel it could put on an event fitting the name of Dunedin Wines the Blues that we have all grown to love and expect," he said.

Within two days, protests from residents along with offers to sponsor or help fund the event prompted the merchants association to reverse its decision.

"Thanks to the incredible determination of our community, the event has been saved," Wasilefsky said. "With unwavering support from the chamber, the city of Dunedin and Visit Dunedin, the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association is thrilled to announce that Wines the Blues will continue strong."

Among those coming to the rescue was AMG Group Music Events, which offered to partner, providing its expertise at hosting music events to the all-volunteer merchants association.

"Having put on events over 15 years in our community, AMG Group Music Events has the experience to bring us back to our roots and build out a quality experience," said Wasilefsky,

Also determined to keep the event alive was Tina Marie Avila, owner of Casa Tina at 365 Main St. Avila opened her first restaurant in Dunedin the same year the blues festival was founded in 1992.

Her fundraiser on Monday will include Mexican food, margaritas, sangria, cervezas, live music by Los Bandidos, wine tastings and a 50-50 raffle.

For reservations, click here or call 727-734-9226.

This year's Dunedin Wines the Blues will take place Saturday, Nov. 11 from 1 to 11 p.m. on multiple stages along Main Street, featuring music by local, regional and world-class blues musicians.

Additionally, more than two dozen wineries will be pouring their finest wines for attendees to sample.

The event is free, but those who want a VIP experience can purchase tickets to the Wine-Tasting Experience starting at $50 or tickets for the VIP Lounge starting at $135.

The merchants association is currently seeking sponsors, food vendors, street vendors and volunteers interesting in participating. Food vendor spaces are $200 and street vendor spaces are $350. For information, click here.