This weekend, Philly’s own culinary star Jose Garces will join Chopped's Ted Allen and an array of other celeb chefs, wine experts, beer gurus and more at the Taste Festival of Food Wine and Spirits. From Friday–Sunday, October 21–23, the Valley Forge Convention Center will play host to a huge grand market with samples and merchandise from restaurants and food and drink purveyors around the country. Advance admission each day is $30 per person (tickets here), or $40 at the door, children aged 6–12 are $5 each and kids under six enter for free.

A stage in the middle of the room will showcase live chef demonstrations throughout the event (Philly.com/food’s Michael Klein will emcee chef Mike Isabella’s Saturday afternoon gig), and a myriad of smaller wine and beer seminars will take place each day (separate tickets needed). Saturday evening is your chance to meet and mingle with the assorted fooderati at the VIP cocktail party at Bahama Breeze, where a $75 entrance fee garners free booze and passed hors d’oeuvres. All in all, the combined food and drink options are plenty of reason to brave the Schuylkill and head west this weekend.