Windermere Arts' third annual Art, Wine & Music Stroll supports young artists

It takes courage to step into the spotlight as an artist, but a local event is helping young performers showcase their talents.

Windermere Arts’ third annual Art, Wine & Music Stroll will give local residents a chance to enjoy food, wine, entertainment and art all while supporting a good cause Saturday, Oct. 19 at The Grove Orlando, at the southwest corner of South Apopka Vineland and Conroy Windermere roads.

Attendees can eat delicious food at more than 20 participating business locations and can get a passport fully stamped to win prizes. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit New Hope for Kids, a charity dedicated to bringing hope, healing and happiness to children and families suffering from grief, loss or life-threatening illnesses.

The event also showcases the talents of local performers, who will be competing in a judged competition for a cash prize.

This year’s talent show will feature singer Tyler Price, singer Addy Ward, singer Ellie Jo Lovini, the Paul Van Wormer Quintet, the Tempo Dance Academy and the Finnegan Academy of Irish Dancers. Steel pan player Justin Paul also will perform at the event, though he won’t be in the talent show.

First place receives $500, second place receives $250, and third place receives $125.

“All of the talent show performers that will be there are all in high school and under,” Windermere Arts founder and event organizer Anne McDonough said. “I think our youngest is in sixth grade. The whole point of that is just to help build the confidence that they need to perform in front of people, but also to really encourage them and inspire them to keep doing it.”

The event also will include 13 artists who will be painting live and competing for cash prizes.

McDonough said she hopes attendees will come out to the event and see how important it is to work together as a community and get involved with a charity — all while appreciating art.

“There’s more to do in our lives than just the computer and the phone and all of that — it’s really about connecting to the right brain,” McDonough said. “The right brain is the creative side, but it’s also more relaxing and it helps people not be so stressed out with everything that we do today.

“It’s about inspiring others to do more artistic-type things,” she said.”

The stroll is a prelude to the two-day Windermere Fine Art Show Feb. 29 and March 1 in downtown Windermere. That event features 85 artists displaying their work. In the midst of the two events, a four-year scholarship will be awarded to a hand-picked high-school artist.