If you’re looking for an afternoon filled with interesting information, melodic music, fabulous food, wonderful wines (and beer) and lively company, the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend their ‘Business Expo & Wine Tasting’ on Sunday, April 26, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Old Lyme Country Club.

A new feature just confirmed at the event is a series of demonstrations by local chefs. These will be held at 3:40 p.m., 4:10 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. when chefs from the Old Lyme Country Club, the Old Lyme Inn and the Black Hall Grille will share some of their secrets.

Chamber President Catherine Frank explains that the purpose of the event is, “To publicize our corner of Connecticut by giving local organizations and businesses the opportunity to promote themselves.”  She comments, “Old Lyme is well known as an art destination – and rightly so – but there’s so much more to our area and this exhibition aims to prove just that.”

Frank notes that each participating business or organization will host an exhibition table with information on their products, programs, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and more in a convivial, ‘one-stop shopping’ setting.”  Many of the participants will be offering prizes at their tables and there will also be a selection of door prizes.

Guests will be treated to music by the MusicNow Foundation/Nightingale’s Acoustic Cafe while local wineries, including Preston Ridge of Preston, will be featured in the wine-tasting. Stomp N Crush of Clinton will be the featured brewery.

Local businesses already signed up to exhibit at the Business Expo include Vitality Spa, Annunziata Travel, Advantage Personal Training, Innovative Environmental, Healthy Addiction, Help With a Heart, The  Woman’s Exchange, The Bee and Thistle Inn, and Upper Pond Farm.

Institutions and organizations attending include the Florence Griswold Museum, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., MusicNow Foundation, Musical Masterworks, the Kiwanis Club, Lyme Art Association, and Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts of the University of New Haven.

Apart from the wine- and beer-tasting, there will be a vast array of food for consumption by guests donated by local restaurants, eateries and the exhibitors.  The Old Lyme Country Club will also host a cash bar.

There is no requirement to be a member of the Chamber to attend, though prospective members are especially welcome.  Tickets at $15 per person (must be over age 21) are available at “The Woman’s Exchange” in the Old Lyme Marketplace or by emailing email@lolcc.com or at the door on the day of the event.  The ticket price includes the wine and beer tasting, food and a free prize ticket.

Each year the Chamber awards a number of scholarships to graduating high school seniors and art students from Lyme and Old Lyme. In fact, the promotional art work for this event (above) was created by Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts graduate Richard Lacey, who is a past Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce scholarship recipient.

For additional information, visit www.visitoldlyme.com

The Old Lyme Country Club is located at 40 McCurdy Rd., Old Lyme, CT 06371.