The second annual History in the Vineyard will carry on despite increased restrictions on restaurants to ease the spread of the coronavirus, but a take-home dinner and virtual presentation will replace the original plan of an in-person event this year.
“This year we really had to adapt to the situation which seems to be getting increasingly worse all the time,” said Tony Chisholm, president of the Friends of Fort George.
They've tried to put together” something that's still interesting to people and give them a wider choice of food, and also give them some sort of a presentation that they can watch at home,” Chisholm said.
“It will be unique to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but it will also involve the history of the area and what Christmas was like,” he said. “It should be a fun event. And it’s so close to Christmas, we thought that was appropriate.”
Tickets cost $100 and will include a three-course, gourmet take-home meal prepared by either Ruffino’s Pasta Bar and Grill, The Garrison House or Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, a link to the special YouTube presentation, and a $40 tax receipt.
Paul Harber of Ravine will also donate a bottle of wine for orders in multiples of two. Orders can be placed online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/niagara-historical-society/events/history-in-the-vineyard/ and specific pickup times will be scheduled for Dec. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The event, in support of the Friends of Fort George and the NOTL Historical Society, also coincides with the society’s 125-year anniversary on Dec. 12.
“The Friends of Fort George were kind to let us piggyback on this event,” said Amy Klassen, the NOTL Museum’s director of finance and marketing.
“With the recent changes to restaurant (COVID restrictions) we thought it would be in the best interests, easier and safer, this year to move to a takeout model,” she said.
Although people will not be able to gather in person and celebrate together as they did last year, she said the new model will still offer the experience of coming together. And she stressed how meaningful participating in this event can be for the charities involved, which have not been able to hold many regular fundraisers this year because of the pandemic.
“It’s important to these charities and it’s a great way to support local businesses and help these charities,” Klassen said.
The museum will also be including a small treat with the pickup orders to commemorate its anniversary.
Chisholm said the pandemic has made fundraising “extremely difficult.”
“The fact that it is supporting two local charities that you know really need the revenue at this point in time because of the lack of fundraising all year. It's made it difficult for both of these charities to keep going,” he said.
Although people won’t be able come together in person, organizers still plan to “dress it up as much as possible.”
“It's kind of a unique event and people are going to have some sort of a presentation to go along with it. We're going to try and make as much of a fun event as possible by being dressed up in costume as the cars arrive and that type of thing,” he said.
