TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
  Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill Awards the Maryland Wineries Association’s Governor's Cup

Light City Baltimore Press Conference Announces “A Festival of Innovation”

Buy Local: MSAC Online Marketplace Opens

Fans Descend on Maryland for “Home for the Holidays” 20th Anniversary

Celebrate Small Business Saturday November 26 with Maryland’s 28 Main Streets Communities

23nd Annual Fall Classic Rock Fish Tournament Set for November 22 & 23

July Tourism Monitor Shows Strong Growth

IN THE NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill Awards the Maryland Wineries Association's Governor's Cup
 
Maryland’s wine industry continues to grow in quantity and quality, which made judging this year’s Governor’s Cup Awards a particular challenge. More than 150 wines were judged, and a record 49 gold medals were awarded to 14 wineries. The event was held at The Wine Source in Baltimore, and Commerce Secretary Mike Gill was on hand to present The Governor’s Cup to Dave Collins of Big Cork Vineyards. Big Cork took home nine gold medals and the Best in Show award for its Petit Verdot 2013. The wine also earned high praise from Joe Fiola, Ph.D., Viticulturist and Small Fruit Specialist, University of Maryland, and a noted Maryland wine pioneer. “Big Cork Vineyard’s Petit Verdot is a monster red wine,” says Fiola, adding that this year’s entries “Display both the quality and unlimited potential of the Maryland territory.”
 
“The 2015 Governor’s Cup demonstrated how our state continues to evolve as a wine growing region,” says Competition Director Al Spoler, and connoisseurs are noticing. Maryland wineries sales have increased from $6.1 million in 2001 to more than $26 million in 2013, a staggering 324 percent increase that should continue to grow as more people discover Maryland’s fantastic wines. So raise a glass to the 2015 Governor's Cup winners and all of Maryland’s 70 wineries.

Pictured: Commerce Secretary Mike Gill and Vintner Dave Collins of Big Cork Vineyards

  TFA NEWS IN BRIEF
 
 
Light City Baltimore Press Conference Announces “A Festival of Innovation”
 
 
   
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts to lay out plans for the inaugural Light City festival. The event, which is modeled after a similar festival in Sydney, Australia, will be the first of its kind in the nation. Running from March 28 through April 3, the week-long event will feature 1.2 miles of light installations by 29 artists from around the world and 50 free concerts and performances highlighted by Baltimore’s Dan Deacon.

The event is being hailed as a “Festival of Innovation,” and will include the “LightCityU” innovation conference. “We felt like it was time to shine a light on what’s positive in our city and what we’re proud of,” said festival director Kathy Hornig. Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., which will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2016, has signed on as the event's lead sponsor.

 
 
 
Buy Local: MSAC Online Marketplace Opens
 
 
   
Just in time for the holidays, the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) has opened its online Maryland Artist Marketplace. The new addition to the MSAC’s home site creates a one-stop-shopping destination for unique works by Maryland jewelers, photographers, glass blowers, painters, sculptors, musicians, weavers, writers, and more. The Maryland Artist Marketplace features a comprehensive search engine allowing shoppers to search by category, price range, county of origin and artist. The marketplace is designed to maximize accessibility for those who wish to buy local and support Maryland businesses while providing a powerful tool for consumers seeking to discover new artists.  Artists who wish to sell through the site can opt-in through their existing Maryland Artist Registry account or, for first time creators, by creating an account through the registry.
 
 
 
Fans Descend on Maryland for “Home for the Holidays” 20th Anniversary
 
 
   
Jodie Foster’s Maryland filmed production, “Home for the Holidays” has become an enduring family classic, and fans of the film journeyed to Maryland to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Jack Gerbes, director, Maryland Film Office, coordinated with the fan group to facilitate visits to shooting locations around Baltimore as well as messages from the film’s producer, Peggy Rajski, and star, Jodie Foster. “Our event was as close to perfect as could be,” wrote Jared Early who organized the trip. “At a certain point it felt like community-building, with residents on each street asking us what was going on,” adding that people were, “delighted and dumbstruck by our presence.” The dedication of these fans demonstrates the enduring legacy of film and television productions shot in Maryland.
 
 
 
Celebrate Small Business Saturday November 26 with Maryland’s 28 Main Street Communities
 
 
   
A tradition since 2010, Small Business Saturday encourages people to show their support for their communities by buying local. This year’s celebration will be held November 26, and there’s no better place to celebrate than in Maryland’s Main Street Communities. From Cambridge to Cumberland and Taneytown to Takoma Park, Maryland's 28 designated Main Streets are filled with historic architecture, boutique shops, art galleries, and the opportunity for both residents and visitors to experience seasonal events and charm.

"As you travel across Maryland, there is no shortage of opportunities to visit a Main Street where you'll find local shops and galleries, cafes and signature holiday experiences," said Liz Fitzsimmons, executive director, Maryland Office of Tourism. "With the holidays upon us, Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to visit a Maryland Main Street and support our local communities."

 
 
 
23nd Annual Fall Classic Rock Fish Tournament Set for November 22 & 23
 
 
   
Anglers from across the East Coast and beyond will descend on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay for the 23nd Annual Fall Classic and early reports point to a strong year for stripers on the bay. Organizers expect to draw more than 200 boats and thousands of fishermen and women, all of them angling to catch a portion of the tens of thousands of dollars in prize money. The Fall Classic has become the preeminent striped bass tournament in the nation and not only awards competitors based on their tournament catch, but serves as the crowning stage of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association (MSSA) tournaments. The captain amassing the most points over all four tournaments will be named the MSSA’s Captain of the Year. The tournament is open to the length and breadth of the Maryland Chesapeake and all of its Maryland tributaries with eight weigh stations across the state.
 
 
 
July Tourism Monitor Shows Strong Growth
 
Findings from the July Tourism Monitor show strong growth. Tourism-related tax codes increased 12.4 percent while overall sales tax collections over the same period grew 4.8 percent. Click here for the full July Tourism Monitor.
 
 
 
 
 
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  UPCOMING EVENTS
 
 
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CRUSA Sales Mission
Join a CRUSA sales mission and sell your destination or product directly to our most important tour operators, travel agents and media contacts in China, Germany and Brazil. Mission formats vary by market but typically include personal sales calls, private client events and training opportunities. All missions are organized and led by CRUSA’s representatives in each market. New for 2016, choose between media or tour operator/trades sales call teams for all missions. Visit CRUSA.org to view the full
 
NOV
 
20-22 & 27-29
 
Frederick, Maryland Christmas Show
With seven buildings and a big top tent, the Maryland Christmas Show brings together top artists, craftspersons, jewelers and more with new vendors from weekend to weekend. For more information, visit marylandchristmasshow.com
 
 
NOV - JAN
 
21-3
 
National Harbor, ICE! Featuring Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Learn how Santa Claus started giving toys to good girls and boys in the retelling of the classic television special, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. For more information, visit their website.
 
 
NOV
 
28
 
Baltimore, BAZAART Holiday Art Market
American Visionary Art Museum's annual holiday art market returns. Hundreds of original creations by more than 40 regional artists and craftspeople, including paintings, sculpture, paper crafts, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, mixed media, apparel, and other work that simply defies categorization!
 
 
 
 
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