Casa Pacifica charity festival to serve up food, wine and beer Leave a comment
Local connoisseurs shouldn’t feel guilty about indulging in the array of food and beverages served up at the 29th annual Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival.
All proceeds from the event, set for June 5 at CSU Channel Islands in Camarillo, will support children and young adults with mental illness and trauma. The food will be served by Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families.
“As guests walk in, they are met with a vibrant and exciting atmosphere overflowing with delicious food and drinks, music and festival-goers and vendors who are there because they care about children and families,” Carrie Hughes, Casa Pacifica’s chief development officer, said.
The festival is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Camarillo nonprofit that helps over 1,700 children and young adults annually from Ventura County and beyond. Prior to the pandemic, the festival typically raised over $900,000. This year, Hughes said the group set a goal to raise $750,000.
On June 5, visitors will be able to sample food from over 55 local restaurants and specialty shops. Over 75 craft beers and 40 wines from local and California breweries and wineries will also be on tap, Hughes said.
This year, Camarillo’s Institution Ale Company won the Best in Fest Brewery Competition with its Rx Pils, a German-style Pilsner, and will be featured throughout the festival.
During the Yummie Culinary Competition, guests can watch as local chefs prepare dishes in two categories — savory and sweet — to place in the contest.
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Guests can currently bid in an online silent auction on over 30 items, including Los Angeles Dodgers dugout tickets, a four-day stay at a cabin in Big Bear and a variety of wine.
The auction ends on June 4, and the items will be on display at the festival.
On event day, Casa Pacifica utilizes the support of about 150 volunteers to check tickets, direct traffic, pour beverages, serve food and perform other necessary duties to keep the festival running smoothly each year. About 80 have signed up to volunteer so far, Hughes said.
To sign up, visit Casa Pacifica’s website. However, volunteers will need to purchase a ticket to enter the festival prior to or after their shift.
The all-inclusive general admission tickets are on sale for $125. The festival begins at 1 p.m. in the south quad of the university.
Brian J. Varela covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo. He can be reached at brian.varela@vcstar.com or 805-477-8014. You can also find him on Twitter @BrianVarela805.
