Tourists to Helen on Saturday got the chance to taste local wines and beers while helping a good cause.The Sautee Nacoochee Community Association held its third annual White County Cork & Keg Festival at Helen’s Festhalle.The festival included more than 50 beers and 15 wines for tasting.“All of the wines are local,” said Paul Rampulla, SNCA board member and managing partner of Nacoochee Village Tavern & Pizzeria. “They were all grown, made and bottled here in White County.”Tickets also included food from local restaurants, free to designated drivers. Proceeds from the $30 tickets go to SNCA.“SNCA is a 30-year-old organization that promotes history, environmentalism, the arts and heritage,” Tommy Deadwyler, program director for SNCA, said.The nonprofit organization offers arts programs and education for all ages; the facility is also home to the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia.Along with raising money for SNCA, the festival helped bring more tourists to Helen.“People come in the fall, but this brings people in the spring,” Rampulla said.According to Rampulla and Deadwyler, tourists come from all over to attend the festival.
Helen festival raises money for White County arts association