Editor's note: Above video is a KREM feature on last year's Crave! event
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – The third annual Crave! Northwest food and drink event is heading to Spokane Valley this weekend, bringing BBQ, beer and seafood with it.
The food and drink festival kicks off with its Seafood Bash on Thursday, which organizers describe as a “luxurious celebration of fresh fish, shellfish and all things seafood.”
The festival will be held at the Spokane Valley CenterPlace, located at 2424 N. Discovery Place, from July 11-13.
Acclaimed Spokane chef Adam Hegsted is the director and visionary behind Crave! He also serves on the event’s chef committee.
Hegsted has built a restaurant empire in the Spokane area and North Idaho over the years, beginning with Eat Good Café in Liberty Lake. He expanded to open restaurants like the Gilded Unicorn, Yards Bruncheon and Honey Eatery and Social Club – his latest – in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
Crave! Offers a way for Inland Northwest residents to experience delicious food and drinks for a good cause, as it benefits Second Harvest and Wishing Star
Here is a rundown of this year’s Crave! Northwest events.
Thursday, July 11
Seafood Bash
- 6 to 9 p.m.
- $85
There is no purchase required for food or drink samples inside the event. You must be 21 or older to attend.
Friday, July 12
Fire and Smoke
- 6 to 9 p.m.
- $75
Fire and Smoke is a BBQ extravaganza, with live entertainment by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Nat Park and the Tunnels of Love. Food will be paired with craft beers along with wine and cocktail pairings.
There is no purchase required for food or drink samples inside the event. You must be 21 or older to attend.
Saturday, July 13
Grand Tasting & Stage Demos
- 1 to 4 p.m.
- $40
The outdoor event will include small bites and samples from food purveyors, wineries, breweries and distillers.
VIP tickets include a meet and greet with “Iron Chef America” competitor Anita Lo and other celebrity chefs and samples from their cookbooks.
You must be 21 or older to attend the event.
Gluten-Free Living Class
- 3 to 4 p.m.
- $40
This class teaches those interested in going gluten-free how to shop, eat socialize and travel after adopting the diet.
The course is taught by K.S. Brooks, a cookbook author and instructor for Community Colleges of Spokane. It includes admission to the Grand Tasting from noon to 3 p.m. before the class.
You must be 21 or older to attend the event.
Foods from Around the World
- 6 to 9 p.m.
- $80
At this event, global flavors will be paired with wines, beers and cocktails, along with live entertainment from Milonga.
An after party by the falls includes a no-host bar, desserts and live music with Buffalo Jones. Everyone who attends the event receives free access to the after party.
Those who wish to attend just the after party, which runs from 9 to 11:30 p.m., can buy a $5 ticket.
You must be 21 or older to attend the event.
Crave! Northwest Packages
Packages are available for those looking to save some money while getting the full Crave! Experience.
The I Want It All! Package includes tickets to all five events. Tickets are $270.
The Crave Cheer! Package includes tickets to four events, including Fire and Smoke, the Grand Tasting, Foods from Around the world and the after party. Tickets are $185.
Tickets to all of the above events are available on the Crave! website.