The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival is very excited to announce the headliner for the 2012 festival, national recording artist Rusted Root.

Rusted Root features founder and band leader Michael Glabicki (lead vocals, guitar), Liz Berlin (vocals, percussion) and Patrick Norman (vocals, bass, percussion). Glabicki says “We are a band made up of individual musicians who come together collectively to create music, call it what you want but we are simply creating music that has a message.”

Rusted Root has sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, and Traverse City’s own Rick Coates observes that the message has been resonating with fans for nearly 20 years. Get all the info about Rusted Root (including their new work) at rustedroot.com. Below is Send Me On My Way, interestingly enough chosen by NASA engineers as the “wake-up” music for the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity Sol 21.

The Traverse City Business News is toasting Michigan – and all things Village – at its monthly RECESS party on Wednesday, March 28th from 5-7 PM at High Five Threads in The Mercato at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Enjoy food from Mana, Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery, Higher Grounds, Sweet Asylum and Underground Cheesecake. There’s also beverages from Cuppa Joe, North Peak Brewing Company and the 20+ wineries of the Traverse City Wine and Art Festival!!

Photo credit: Traverse City Wine & Art Festival Launch Party by KatSwinehart

Below area list of lodging packages in Leelanau, Benzie & Traverse City and the surrounding area for the 2012 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival, held Saturday, June 30, 2012.

Click for tickets without packages

A special thank you to our featured Lodging Sponsor, Cambria Suites.  Cambria Suites Traverse City offers a Wine & Art Festival Lodging Package for $398 which includes lodging in a King Suite on Friday and Saturday and two tickets to the Festival.

The Comfort Inn Wine And Art Festival package will cost $179 per night plus tax, with a Friday and Saturday night stay required. The package includes lodging for two in your choice of a King Hot Tub room or a room with two queen beds. Two tickets to the Wine & Art Festival are included as is our delicious hot breakfast each morning.

The Best Western Four Seasons of Traverse City offers a Wine & Art Festival Lodging Package for $358 which includes lodging in a King Spa room on Friday and Saturday and two tickets to the Festival.

Summer 2012 will sizzle as you arrive on our sparkling shoreline, private sand beach, private gardens and your Bay front suite at Vintage Earth Beach House. Then add in the thrill of Traverse City’s Wine & Art Festival complimentary tickets and complimentary breakfasts. Rates from $125 per person, per night based on minimum double occupancy, two night minimum, group reservation welcome.

The newly renovated Econo Lodge of Traverse City welcomes you with a special rate of $304.90 +tax for a two night stay plus two Wine & Art Festival tickets and a special gift at check in. Whether you’re coming with your honey or with friends, chose between rooms with one king or two queen beds. Rooms with spa tubs may be available. We are located on the southwest side of Traverse City at Chums Corners.

The Grand Traverse Resort & Spa offers a Wine & Art Festival Package including 1 night stay, festival tickets, and transportation to and from the event starting at $116.50 plus taxes and resort fee, per person, based on double occupancy in the hotel. Call 800-748-0303 for more details.

With the Bayshore Resort, a Wine & Art Festival package includes two nights in a spa room, two tickets to the festival, and a deluxe continental breakfast each morning. Stay Friday and Saturday nights or Saturday and Sunday nights for $534.50 including taxes. Call 800-634-4401 to make reservations.

Enjoy the top rated on-water hotel, the  Cherry Tree Inn & Suites – with their Traverse City Wine & Art Festival package, which includes a two night stay in any of their 18 room types, two tickets to the festival, a box of locally-made chocolate truffles, and all the 5-star amenities the Cherry Tree Inn & Suites offers, including our brand new bay-side heated outdoor pool and spa.  Getaway for some wine and art and enjoy a Traverse City stay it at the best – Packages start at $388 for the two night package.

Kathleen Swinehart has a cool set of photos from the 2011 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival on Flickr including the one to the right.

Shannon & Cortney Case of Michigan By the Bottle have a nice set of TCWF photos on Facebook.

TCWF Photographer Mark O’Shaughnessy put together this great slideshow of photos from the 2011 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival and also has an album right here on Facebook!