Company, the 17th Annual Portland Sym- phony Orchestra wine dinner will be held this year at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. Look for culinary creations from Paola Laboa (Solo Italiano), Sara Jenkins (Nina June), Ilma Lopez (Piccolo, Chaval), Sam Hayward (Fore Street, Scales) and Troy Mains (Harraseeket Inn). portlandsymphony.org 24 Annual Chili Chowder Challenge Recognized as the biggest and longest last- ing chili and chowder competition in Maine, the 17th Annual Chili Chowder Challenge is a fun- and food-filled family event with a charitable component. Proceeds from the event benefit the Children’s Center. Beyond the main event of tasting the state’s best chili and chowder from local res- taurants and caterers, guests can enjoy crafts, a silent auc- tion, and live music. childrensctr.org 25 Maine Maple Sunday Get an up-close glimpse at how Maine maple syrup pro- ducers create liquid gold on Maine Maple Sunday—always the fourth Sunday in March. Bring your sweet tooth! mainemapleproducers.com 25 Eat the Heat Chili Cookoff Be the judge at Sunday River’s annual chili cookoff, where local restaurants vie for the title of the Champion of Chili. This year’s twist? In- dividuals without a restaurant affiliation are invited to com- pete. The Firefighters’ Race, live music, and a Bloody Mary Bar from Shipyard Brew Haus tops it off to deliver you a perfect Sunday. sundayriver.com APRIL 6 Maine Brewfest: Spring Session After a day of skiing and snowboarding on the moun- tain, switch gears at night at Sunday River’s second an- nual brew festival, highlight- ing 100 different beers and ciders from 40 local brewers. The event, which kicks off the mountain’s Spring Festi- val Weekend, includes plenty to eat and live music to rock out to. sundayriver.com 8 Chocolate Lover’s Fling Get your fill of chocolatey goodness at the MAY 11 Toast on the Coast Spend an evening overlooking beautiful Casco Bay while enjoying gourmet fare at the 7th annual Toast on the Coast. Held each year at the Ocean Gateway terminal on Port- land’s historic waterfront, guests can expect to sample fine wines and plenty of food pairings, and proceeds always go to a good cause. Tickets are limited, so secure yours today! toastonthecoast.com 19 8 Great Plates Beer and bites for a good cause, 8 Great Plates brings together eight local restaurants for a night of beer and food pairing, with all proceeds going to charity. allagash.com JUNE 4-9 Kennebunkport Festival A week-long celebration of area chefs and craft beverage producers and distill- ers, it’s the perfect way to en- joy the spirit of Kennebunk- port—one unforgettable bite and sip at a time. kennebunkportfestival.com 10 Old Port Festival Kick off your summer with the 45th annual Old Port Festival. With over 250 vendor booths offering an eclectic mix of food, music and art, this rain-or-shine event draws thousands of at- tendees to Portland’s down- town from 11 a.m.—5 p.m. portlandmaine.com/old-port- festival 21-23 Greek Festival A 3-day event that draws over 10,000 people each year, the annual Greek Food Festival is a family-friendly Portland tradition. Come for the spanakopita, lamb souv- laki, and loukoumades—stay for the live music and tradi- tional dancing! holytrinityportland.org 23 Allagash Street Fair Industrial Way becomes a veri- table festival each year at the annual Allagash Street Fair. A collaboration between area restaurants and benchmark breweries from Maine and be- yond, it’s one of the finest ways to soak up some sun and suds this summer. allagash.com 23 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival Fans of Maine’s official state treat will be in seventh heaven at the 2018 Maine Whoop- ie Pie Festival. With samples of countless different interpretations of the classic Maine treat to choose from, it’s the ultimate education on all things “whoopie.” mainewhoopiepiefestival.com 2018 Chocolate Lover’s Fling. With desserts from Standard Baking Company, the Holy Donut, Izzy’s Cheesecakes and more, there’s no heading home hungry from this annual event (now in its 33rd year!). chocolateloversfling.org 26 Gulf of Maine Seafood Celebration Give a toast to the bounty of the ocean at the 5th annual Gulf of Maine Seafood Cel- ebration. Mingle with marine scientists, local fisherman, and more while tasting an end- less array of dishes highlighting the best our waters have to offer—it’s educational and delicious. gmri.org The Roma was reincarnated in 2017. Guests can enjoy traditional Italian favorites amid the glamour of the refurbished Rines Mansion. March Hungry Eye 50 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine courtesy photo