Oak Harbor Wine, Bites and Brews Fundraiser Returns April 11

Every $100 admission ticket to this year's Wine, Bites & Brews has a job to do in historic downtown Oak Harbor: fund public Wi-Fi access, improved wayfinding signage, and the marketing campaigns that Main Street Director Margaret Livermore says are essential to keeping the commercial core active year-round. The event is Oak Harbor Main Street's signature annual fundraiser, and on April 11 it returns for its fourth year at the Oak Harbor Elks Lodge from 3 to 6 p.m.

The $100 full-tasting ticket covers food and beverage samples from participating downtown restaurants, wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. A $50 food-only entry is also available for guests who want the bites without the pours. For those who cannot attend, Main Street is accepting donations through the event page without requiring a ticket purchase.

New additions this year include a silent auction built around roughly a dozen themed gift baskets and VIP-tier access for guests who want more than general admission. The event is open to guests 21 and older; a state-issued ID is required at the door.

In past years, the lineup has drawn some of Whidbey Island's most recognizable producers and kitchens, including Dancing Fish Vineyards, Hierophant Meadery, Wicked Teuton Brewing Company, Whidbey Island Distillery, Frasers Gourmet Hideaway and Mad Batter Bakehouse, among others. The 2026 participating vendor list is posted on the Oak Harbor Main Street event page.

Livermore has been direct about what the fundraiser underwrites: public Wi-Fi infrastructure, signage updates and marketing reach. No single evening covers the full cost of those projects, but the event has become a reliable annual revenue source for the nonprofit at a moment when downtown Oak Harbor is pushing to function as a year-round destination rather than a seasonal one.

Tickets are available through the Oak Harbor Main Street website. Guests traveling from elsewhere on Whidbey Island should account for Island Transit schedules and ferry timing before booking an afternoon slot.