By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
Last Saturday’s second annual wintertime Mardi Gras Corks & Hops event at Crestline’s historic San Moritz Lodge, from 5 to 9 p.m., lured hundreds of wine and craft beer aficionados, some from as far as Palm Desert, Los Angeles and Orange County, according to event organizers. They conceded it wasn’t as crowded as the summertime event – which often attracts as many as 450 participants – due to snow and ice on the ground, as well as the somewhat limited space available at the San Moritz venue, compared to the vast outdoor area within the Crestline township.
New Orleans-style attire was de rigueur at last Saturday’s Mardi Gras Corks & Hops event.
The event, which has been ongoing for over a decade, began in 2014 as an annual wine and stein beer walk that had its check-in station in the Goodwin’s Market parking lot. Since morphing into the event it has become today, Corks & Hops has grown into a summertime craft beer and wine walk that begins on the first Saturday of each month in the Arrowhead Credit Union parking lot and proceeds along Crestline’s Lake Drive business district, then continues in Top Town, with transportation provided by Mountain Transit’s free weekend trolley, which makes stops at the various pour stations at stores and shops along the mile-long route.
Crestline couple Rachael and Erik Schiller enjoyed their Bavarian lager.
Though smaller in stature, the uniqueness of San Moritz Lodge affords participants the comfort of tables and chairs at which they can sit and mingle and converse with one another and listen to bands playing on two stages, in between visiting as many as 16 pour stations offering craft beers, wines and ales, as well as Cajun food items and pop-up vendors featuring clothing, custom jewelry, gemstones and other unique products.
Magician Zac Swan (L) fascinated crowds with his creative card tricks and illusions.
Garnering much attention was local magician Zac Swan, who fascinated crowds with his lighthearted demeanor and creative card tricks and illusions. Meanwhile, the Crestline-based Speakeasy Jazz Band, featuring songstress Shannon Bizzy, provided music for enthusiastic dancers and wowed crowds with jazz and blues classics ranging from Cajun to Brubeck.
Longtime mountain resident Ginger Gabriel commented, “I’ve been curious about what the Mardi Gras was like, and I had a chance to volunteer and met a lot of great people, saw old friends and a great chance to get in some dancing. Two great bands were playing, and it was a fun night.”
This summer’s Corks & Hops series kicks off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 and continues, from 3 to 8 p.m., on July 8, Aug. 5, Sept. 2 and Oct. 7.
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