One of Florida's biggest wine and food festivals takes place each spring. Getting there will take a Tankful of gas and some planning ahead.

Once a year, the cool sounds are paired with great food and drinks in Florida's trendy northwest communities.

"We like to say it's where wine, charity and fun converge," says Stacey Brady, the executive director of the South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival.

Hearing "just put it straight up in your mouth, there you go" is common here.

They come from across Florida for the green wristband that will allow them to eat and drink at the annual event.

"We got award-winning Michelin-starred chefs who come and prepare delicious bites of food for us to eat," Brady says.

Tempting delights like the Grayton Pale Ale Beer cheese soup, empanadas stuffed with chicken and cheese to things I've never heard of before.

"This is a ham and havarti pinwheel with cabana cream with strawberries, avocados and a raspberry vinaigrette," one chef says.

Besides great things to taste and drink, there are also cool sounds. Songwriter Aaron Barker wrote hits for George Strait. He's a regular at the festival.

"There is always fun here," Barker says. "Happiness. Everybody is happy all the time."

And as the sun sets, Brady says you need to plan in advance if you want to attend the festival this April.

"The hotels and the condos and the vacation rentals typically do sell out this weekend because it's a hugely popular event," she says.

Tickets to sample shrimp and grits the last weekend in April are expected to go fast.

The South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival is scheduled for the final weekend in April.

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