12th annual Wine, Chowder and Glass Float Trail a success

Feb. 23, 2023 — Florence Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 12^th annual Wine, Chowder and Glass Float Trail last weekend and it was a rousing success.

Great weather over the weekend of Feb. 17-19 provided perfect conditions for the three-day event and, according to the Chamber, hotels were full all weekend as visitors came to Florence from all over. This was the second time the festival was held in February.

Novelli’s Crab & Seafood took the Overall Chowder Championship for the fifth time in the last six festivals.

“I want to thank my entire crew, Kai, Gavin, my wife and her parents — who traveled here from out of state — for all the hard work,” said Novelli’s owner D.J. Reynolds on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “I also want to thank everyone who voted for us. This award means so much to me, and I know my mother is smiling down on us right now. Also, a shout out to the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce for putting on such a fun event. Mitzi did a fantastic job.”

Laughing Crab Gallery & Tasting Room was second and Lovejoy’s Tea Room placed third.

The festival is put on through the efforts of Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, its President and CEO Bettina Hannigan, and the Chamber’s Director of Tourism and Development ,Mitzi Hathaway. 

“We are grateful for the beautiful weather and amazing turn out,” Hannigan said after the event. “There were a lot of smiling faces all over town.”

Special event sponsors were Three Rivers Casino, Christina Voogd - Berkshire Hathaway, Oregon Pacific Bank, Banner Bank and Heidi White - TR Hunter Real Estate.

For more information on happenings in our area go to florencechamber.com/.