If you enjoy spending weekend mornings at Riverside Arts Market perusing the vendor booths, sampling eats and listening to live music, you are in for a treat! On Sunday, February 9, the city’s inaugural Food & Wine Festival will hit the market grounds from 12 to 8 p.m.

Visitors can sample more than 60 wines from lots of Northeast Florida’s top restaurants and food trucks.

Also on hand will be more than 40 local vendors, live art installations and live bands on the waterfront stage including Chelsey Michelle (12 p.m.), Evan Michael & The Well Wishers (1:45 p.m.), The Band Be Easy (3:30 p.m.), and Chris Thomas Band (6 p.m.).

General public admission is free, and guests can purchase food and beverages directly from the on-site vendors. All concessions and most vendors are cash only (ATMs will be set up around the grounds).

For a VIP experience, you can purchase a ticket for $70 and enjoy one complimentary sample from each participating restaurant as well as wine tastings (between 12 and 4 p.m.). VIPs also receive a commemorative wine glass and have access to private seating and refreshment stations. HURRY! VIP tickets are almost sold out.

Prefer beer over wine? No worries! Stella Artois, Cigar City, Wicked Weed and Bud Light are sponsoring the festival as well.

The family-friendly event will also include bounce houses, face painting, games, painting walls, and more.

Festival proceeds go to the Wagoner Foundation, a local non-profit that supports The Salvation Army, Vets 4 Vets, Fur Sisters, Vets on Tap, The Jacksonville Jaycees, The Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association, and lots of other local charities.

The Riverside Arts Market is located at 715 Riverside Avenue under the Fuller Warren Bridge (I95) in Historic Riverside. Learn more and purchase your VIP ticket at http://jaxfoodwinefest.com/.