Behind the scenes of the 2022 Naples Winter Wine Festival

Reporter: Lindsey Sablan Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published:

Take a look at the details of what it takes to host one of the country’s largest fundraisers.

The elaborate invitations for the 2022 Naples Winter Wine Festival are entire boxes that go to attendees, looking like children’s books with tabs to pull. The woman behind all the decor and invitations, Shirley Welsh, says that’s all intentional.

Welsh started working on the design for the festival in February of 2021, saying one has to set the tone early on.

“If you just get a one-page invitation, that doesn’t say, ‘Come and spend some money,’ and really truly… we want you to bid, we want you to get an auction item,” Welsh said.

All the money raised at the festival auction on Saturday goes directly to local nonprofits that work with children. In 21 years of the festival, it has raised $220 million.

Join WINK News on Thursday at 7 p.m. for a special report, “A Taste for Help,” during which you’ll be introduced to some of the children the festival has helped and be given an exclusive look at what it takes to put on the elaborate event.

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