Phoenix, Arizona – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
The Arizona Biltmore is staging a summer-long “Hollywood & Wine” Festival – with a calendar overflowing with activities and events – that promises to be a blockbuster hit.
“We’re planning nonstop Hollywood-themed fun, Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, with celebrity bands performing in concert, Hollywood professionals revealing their creative secrets, movie screenings, theater productions, celebrity winemakers uncorking their best, special foods and much more,” said General Manager Andrew Stegen.
“The Biltmore has an historic connection to Hollywood with the many stars who have frequented the resort over the years, which is why holding Hollywood & Wine here is so apropos,” added Stegen. “The Biltmore is where Clark Gable lost his wedding ring, Marilyn Monroe had her favorite swimming pool, Irving Berlin penned “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” while sitting at the Paradise Pool, and where Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli and Sammie Davis Jr. gave impromptu concerts in the lobby.”
The extensive festival agenda will include:
-Celebrity Bands in Concert: Among the celebrity band performances will be the Bacon Brothers kicking off the festival Memorial Day weekend; music legend Miles Mosley, June 18 and 19; members of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra Pops with Fireworks on July 4; and the Fab Faux over Labor Day weekend.
-Celebrity Wines: Wines by celebrity winemakers will be featured in wine tastings, wines by the glass and special dinners paired with wines in the resort’s restaurants. Among the celebrity wines will be Dan Akyroyd Wines, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Fess Parker Winery, and Rebel Vinum (by actor/director/screenwriter Doug Barr and Bruce Orosz, founder of major Hollywood production company ACT 1 ).
-Top Hollywood Professionals Revealing the Secrets of Their Trade: Make-up artists, set designers, costume designers and other Hollywood pros who have made countless famous films will be giving special presentations giving insights into the art of movie making. Among the presenters will be Mel Cooper, Vice President of the Set Decorators Society of America, whose many credits include the Jerry Seinfeld Show; Sally Stevens, Director of the Hollywood Film Chorale who has worked on more than 1,000 theatrical and television film scores over more than three decades; and Anna Wyckoff, a costume designer and personal stylist whose career spans from Roman Holiday to Legally Blonde.
-Dive-In Movies: Hollywood blockbuster films – including many that were made by the Hollywood professionals giving presentations at the festival – shown on a large screen and watched while floating in the Paradise Pool.
– “Hollywood – Live On Stage”: A variety of live events will be featured including a classical theater series by Southwest Shakespeare Company.
-“Rising Star” Entertainment Series: Arizona Biltmore will stage its own version of “Making of the Band.”
-Hollywood-Inspired Foods and Menus: The special foods will range from Hollywood-themed menus in the restaurants to popcorn machines at the pool for the Dive-In Movies, fresh fruit and juice Popsicles, and flavored S’mores.
The festival is open to the public, but some activities are for Arizona Biltmore guests only including: wine tastings, the presentations by Hollywood professionals and the Dive-In Movies.
www.arizonabiltmorehollywoodandwine.com