From stunning beaches to creative cuisine, Florida’s Gulf Coast is a hot spot for the hospitality and tourism industry. This Thursday, April 18 from 4-7pm, celebrate the local businesses and entrepreneurs that define our community at the first 26 West Food and Wine Festival at the State College of Florida in Bradenton.

The festival will be held at the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center on SCF’s Bradenton campus. The Center offers countless educational opportunities in business, entrepreneurship and technology to SCF students, and a portion of the festival’s proceeds will go toward scholarships for the SCF Hospitality and Tourism Program, in which students can earn a two-year associate of science degree in hospitality and tourism. “Because we are all about entrepreneurship at the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center, we are showcasing over 30 local entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry at the festival,” says Kim Richmond, the director of the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center.

Before entering the Center, you’ll pass through a beer garden, sponsored by Lamborgini Sarasota. You’ll enjoy craft beers from the 3 Daughters Brewing, Motorworks Brewery and Gold Coast Eagle Distributing. On the Center’s main floor, peruse vendor booths while sampling their offerings. “On our main floor, you’ll see some of our hometown favorites, like Oak and Stone and Mean Deans Local Kitchen,” Richmond adds. “We’ll also have hospitality folks like The Chateau Anna Maria, Pineapple Kitchen, Fiorelli Winery and Amuse 5 Bakery, so we’ve got a variety of different hospitality entrepreneurs. You’ll be able to go from booth to booth and do tastings. They’ll all have samples, whether it’s beer or wine or food. For the $10 admission fee, that is really a deal.” The event will also feature live music and a photo booth, making it a fun and engaging evening for everyone.

Richmond is excited for SCF staff and faculty and the surrounding community to experience the festival. “It’s a way to creatively showcase entrepreneurs because that’s how we like to think of ourselves here at the 26 West Entrepreneurship Center, as always being innovative. We think that innovation includes technology but goes beyond it,” she says. “What better way than to open our doors to the whole community, so that everybody can come in and experience these really great local entrepreneurs?”

26 West Food and Wine Festival, 26 West Center SCF Center/Building 8, 5480 26th St. W., Bradenton, 26west.scf.edu/foodwine/. Admission is for ages 21 and up only.