Suffolk has a number of important fundraising events and festivals coming up, and one of the most promising of the new crop is the Suffolk Wine Festival, presented by Suffolk Business Women.

The event, set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the old Tidewater Community College campus, will give as many as 2,500 attendees the opportunity to meet vintners and brewers from wineries and breweries around the commonwealth.

Homemade cheeses will provide accompaniment to the libations, and an array of food vendors on site will give guests the opportunity to have lunch or an early dinner. Local restaurants such as Suffolk BBQ Co., Mason’s, From The Hearth Pizza and Chick-fil-A will be among them.

Featured wineries include Chatham Vineyards, Delfosse Vineyards, Lake Anna Winery, Lovingston Winery, Rockbridge Vineyard, Rosemont Vineyard, White Hall, Williamsburg Winery, Castle Hill Cider and Athena Vineyards.

Featured breweries include Devil’s Backbone, St. George, Bold Rock Cider, Smartmouth, Young Veterans and O’Connor.

Tastings are included with the cost of a ticket, but attendees can purchase larger servings of those libations they like best.

There will also be plenty of entertainment on hand, as local favorites 10 Spot, Win Winslow, Don Hamlett and Brian Sewell will provide music for the afternoon.

But the event is not about the entertainment, the cheese or even the wine and beer when you get right down to it, organizers say. Proceeds from the event will benefit both Suffolk Rotary clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout camp funds, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Suffolk Business Women scholarship fund.

Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the gate. Advance tickets are available for purchase at www.suffolkwinefest.com or at the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N. Main St.; Title Quest, 114 N. Main St.; Bon Vivant Wine Shop, 1901 Governor’s Pointe; Vintage Tavern, 1900 Governor’s Pointe; or River Stone Chophouse, 8032 Harbour View Blvd.

For those who enjoy trying new wine or beer, there will hardly be a better opportunity to do so all year. To be able to do so and benefit some worthy organizations is a happy bonus.