To that end, Sandy Tutt organized the Put on Purple for Lupus Wine & Beer Festival at Oak Grove Golf Club on Saturday in New Boston with a wine and beer garden running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., a two-man scramble golf tournament starting at 8:30 a.m., an artisan market starting at 9 a.m. and a car and truck show starting at 10 a.m.
The wine garden has a $10 entry, which gives festival-goers a glass and a tote bag. Tastings are $1 with glasses of wine for $5. Bottles of wine will be sold, too, by the 10 Texas wineries participating. Texas wineries include Red Road Vineyard and Winery, Enoch's Stomp Winery and Vineyard, O'Farrell Country Vineyards, White Fox Vineyards, Homestead Winery and others.
Among the more than 30 vendors will be sellers of crafts, homemade jewelry, massage therapy, custom cookware and more. "The vendors are free to the public to come out and shop," Tutt said. "We also have two food trucks that are going to be there."
Unique vendors include Bleau Dog Vintage Decor & Boutique, The Quirky Quilting Bee Shop, Bon Temps Art, D & R Gourmet Blends, Rose of Sharon Acres, Pink Ride, ELV Shots, The Mess Sergeant's's Custom Cookware and Wood Working and more.
As for food vendors, they'll supply the barbecue and crawfish eats. For the truck and car show, it's a $10 entry fee but free for the public to see. The public will also serve as judge. A silent auction, door prizes and children's activities are also part of this inaugural event.
Proceeds will got to the Dallas chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Tutt's goal is to help people in this area and raise awareness about lupus. She's seen a lack of lupus support groups and medical care here, so she wants to change this via the foundation's help.
Tutt was diagnosed with lupus five years ago. At the time, she had no idea what it was. "The more research I did, I realized there was nothing in Texarkana," she recalled.
Tutt traveled to see doctors and eventually contacted the Lupus Foundation of America. Her experience with their fundraising walk the past three years inspired her to start this wine and beer festival. This is the third year for the golf tournament portion.
She's devoted the past year to organizing this family-friendly festival and looks forward to seeing people there.
