Newport News, VA (February 4, 2019) – The Virginia Living Museum's 14th Annual Bacchus Wine and Food Festival – a 2018 Best of Hampton Roads event – returns on Friday, February 8 presented by Old Point National Bank. The museum will close at 2pm that day to prepare for the festival.

Guests are welcomed by Bacchus the god of food and vine. Gods and goddesses invite you to enjoy delicious samplings of fine wine, local restaurant fare, and an eclectic mix of live music and entertainment as you mingle with friends among the beautiful museum galleries and exhibits, including the Museum's current traveling exhibit American Adventure, during the nights Main Event 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

The Virginia Living Museum reserved the best of the best for the VIP Divine Reception an hour prior to the main event. From 6:00 to 7:00 pm enjoy exclusive samplings and priority access to all restaurants in a relaxing atmosphere and enjoy the music of Matt Lockhart. The VIP glass will be filled with highly rated wines from Zephaniah Farm Vineyards. Zephaniah was recently named one of the top 25 wineries in the United States. Also from BreakThru Beverage will be a wide variety of wines including: Fess Parker Marcella's White, Jerman P. Grigio, Chateau Souverain Chardonnay, Berringer Luminous Chardonnay, Peter Lehman Barossan Shiraz. Beringer Waymaker Red. Ghost Pines Pinot Noir, Louis Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Anna Codorniu Sparkling. Craft beer from Sly Clyde, St. George Brewing Company, Capstan Bar Brewing and Ozzlefinch.

From steaks, seafood and global cuisine, to sweet treats and cakes, the Bacchus Wine and Food festival will offer something for all taste buds. This year's participating restaurants include Bonefish Grill, Culinary Institute of Virginia, Jimmy Da Greek's, Dock of the Bay, Huntington House Catering, Riverwalk Restaurant, Smoke BBQ, Starbucks, Trader Joe's, Sinful Treats, Tucanos Brazilian Grill, Whitley's Peanut Bar, Saffron, The Grey Goose, Indulge Bakery and Bistro, James River Country Club, Nest Kitchen and Taphouse, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Schlesinger's and the Museum's very own Wild Side Café.

Let's not forget our live music. Headlining the event is the Matt Lockhart Party band and also a variety of performances throughout the evening by Louis Vangieri, Paul Urban and Friends, and Colonial DJs. Get a one-on-one card reading by Magickal Attic's Melissa Kepley and relish in a trick or two by local magician Hugh Koontz. A silent auction, mystery wine tasting and games round out the night's entertainment.

The event's presenting sponsor is Old Point National Bank and supporting sponsors Consumer Litigation Associates/Women' s Executive Health Care, Abbitt Realty, Distinctive Event Rentals, Hampton Roads Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Priority Toyota/Hampton and Priority Chevrolet/Newport News, Jeff's Flower's Of Course, and Virginia Health Services, Kaufman and Canoles, The Neighbor Group at Morgan Stanley, Allstate/Katy Jones and WMBG Radio. Board Host sponsors: Jim Burnett/W.M. Jordan and Donald B. Brown/Northwestern Mutual, Philip J. Forbes IV/ Mulkey, Forbes, Reid and Barton, PLC., Rebecca Aman and Tom Aman/RE/MAX Peninsula, and Randy Abbitt/National Exterminating. Divine Reception Sponsors: Mike Archuleta and Kelly Smith, Waltz Engineered Sales Inc., Scot W. Wucher/Wuchtrade.

Tickets for the Divine Reception are $125 and Main Event $70 (after February 4) at https://thevlm.org/visit/your-visit/tickets/Tickets are nonrefundable. Must be 21 or over. ID is required. The Bacchus Wine and Food Festival supports science education at the Museum. The community's continuous support enables the VLM to sustain and strengthen the institution.

The Museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, I-64, exit 258A. For more information visit thevlm.org or call 757- 595-1900. You can also find the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.