Quincy Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day this weekend

QUINCY - Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day kicks off this weekend in Quincy, giving the local community a chance to explore the area's agricultural roots.

The weekend celebration will feature agriculture tours, food booths, live entertainment and a grand parade among other attractions.

On Friday, local chefs will square off at the Chef Extravaganza at White Heron Cellars. The iron chef event starts at 6 p.m. and is designed to compliment FCAD by showcasing local food products.

Produce and meat products within 10 miles of the winery will be available to chefs, who must produce a range of plates from appetizers to dessert using the ingredients. Dave Toal from Ravenous Catering, Richard Kitos from Ivy Wild and Amilee Cappel-Olsen from Chelan will be competing against each other.

Funk band Mugsy's Groove will provide live music during the event. Tickets are $25 per person. White Heron Cellars is located at 23832 Fine Wine Road NW in Quincy.

Saturday events kick off with an air balloon launch at 6 a.m. at Twin Firs Turf. The Lions Club will hold a breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. at the Quincy High School cafeteria.

There will also be a Farm-to-Market 2k and 5k runs at 8 a.m. at Mountain View Elementary School. Participants can register for the races at Quincy High School.

At 9 a.m., food booths and exhibits will open at the high school festival grounds. There will also be music entertainment, children's activities and a petting zoo.

The Grand Parade will take place downtown at 10 a.m.

Agricultural tours start at 11 a.m. and participants can tour the area's wineries, an alpaca farm and a potato plant among other tours.

Participants can end the night with the Quincy Valley Balloon and Wine Festival at Twin Firs Turf at 5 p.m. There will be a fireworks show at dusk.

A Sunday balloon launch will end the festivities at Twin Firs Turf at 6 a.m.

For more information, visit www.quincyfarmerconsumer.com/. For a map of events, visit www.quincyfarmerconsumer.com/map.php.