First Annual Food and Wine Festival Opens Saturday

The first annual Alexandria Food and Wine Festival will be held in the city’s Carlyle neighborhood on Saturday.

The charter event, located in John Carlyle Square, includes live entertainment, children’s activities, food and wine tasting and a food demo showcase.

Local restaurants including , , and others, will complete for best appetizer, main course and best dessert.

The noon to 5 p.m. event is free to attend, but tickets are required to sample food and beverages. Ticket booklets include 25 "taste tickets" for $20. Wine tastes are $10.

Active-duty military families will benefit from one free book per family. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to .