BY CARLA ST. GERMAIN

Special to The Pilot

Sip, stroll and shop your way through the village of Pinehurst on Saturday evening, May 19, at the inaugural Wine Walk. It is all about a taste of wine, some good food and a leisurely stroll in the shops around town with friends, and all for a good cause, the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

In honor of the horse carriage competition that is taking place the same weekend at the Pinehurst Mile Track, the Wine Walk has been dubbed "Sips & Whips."

The layout of the event itself will be in keeping with the golfing roots of Pinehurst.

On Saturday evening, May 19, the village will be transformed into 18 "holes" or tasting stops.

Each "hole" will feature a wine or food sample matched to the personality of the boutique -business location.

For instance, at Le Faux Chateau you might sample a little bubbly, or stop in at Tesoro for something beautiful and red.

In addition to the wonderful wines, gourmet cuisine from many locally owned restaurants and talented chefs will be featured at some of the holes.

All this will be accompanied by live music at various locations in the downtown area. In -addition, local downtown shops and restaurants will have special offers for Wine Walk attendees to shop and dine.

Bottles of wine will be available for sale at the 19th hole. Wines can be purchased through the "Lowes Foods to Go" online purchasing option and will be ready to pick up during and after the event.

The cost is $25 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Moore County's central food hub that supports the needs of many charitable organizations, including the Coalition, BackPack Pals and the Kids Summer Cafe, among others.

The event is from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged and can be purchased online prior to the event at Lowes Foods, or participating merchants. Other purchase options include via phone at (910) 687-0377 or online at www.Inside Pinehurst.com., or by calling (910) 687-0377, or at the event check-in for $30.

The event will offer two "shotgun starts," one at 4:30 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m. Upon check-in, each participant will need to present a valid ID (must be 21 years of age or older) and will receive a wristband, commemorative wine glass, and a tasting course layout identifying each participating business and the selection of sampling locations.

On Sunday, May 20, at 10 a.m., the village will come alive with the magic and romance of an earlier era - a time when the horse and carriage were elevated from a simple means of personal conveyance to a portrait of their owner, a social commentary as to profession, personal taste, and character.

The Moore County Driving Club hosts Classic in the Pines, a carriage driving competition. This celebration of the art and sport of traditional carriage driving is held at the historic track facility, and the weekend's competition includes a picture-perfect parade of horse carriages winding through the neighborhoods with a grand finale in the streets of the village itself.

The carriage parade will also include an old-fashioned chuck wagon that will be picking up food items and donations for the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina.

The carriages will travel down St. Andrews, crossing into the village on Ritter Road at Beulah Hill Road and past the Pine Crest Inn.

The parade is a culmination of three days of carriage competition.

Over the course of the weekend, spectators have the opportunity to view a wide variety of 19th century carriages compete at the Pinehurst Mile Track.

Antique and sport carriages ranging from tiny pony carts to extravagant coaches with polished brass and silver harnesses will be participating in all phases of classical driving competition, including dressage, cones, obstacles classes and the elegant pleasure driving through town.

All competition is free to the public.

For more details, visit the websites www.Inside Pinehurst.com or www.MooreCountyDrivingClub.com.