MONROE — Downtown Monroe is getting uncorked. After being canceled in 2020, Main Street’s First Thursday Wine Walk returns in November. The event, sponsored by Hawk’s Mill Winery and the Bank of New Glarus, will be held Thursday, Nov. 4 from 5-9 p.m. 

It has been planned for the beginning of November to capitalize on the start of the holidays and fall season. Tickets are required to attend. Main Street Monroe’s executive director, Jordan Nordby, notes that the last four wine walks have all sold out and encouraged everyone interested to buy tickets now. Participants can sample wine and eat heavy appetizer pairings at 17 downtown stores. Each store is provided two types of a wine. Participants may sample one or both. Stores are responsible for food pairings but are given their list of beverages ahead of time so they may plan appropriately. Each ticket also includes a commemorative wine glass and gift bag. 

In June, hard ciders and local beer (from Bullquarian Brewhouse) were served at some stores. Most participating stores will also be having night-of-only specials, which makes it a great way for people to jumpstart shopping for Christmas, adds Nordby. One store will even be bringing in a particular brand representative for a pop-up section for the event. Participating businesses include locally owned women’s clothing boutiques, home good stores, specialty gift businesses, and new businesses including Sunrise Donut Café, which opened in September. 

Hawk’s Mill Winery will be providing four to five different wines for the event. In the past, they have unveiled new releases during the event. Beyond that, a volunteer committee works to find a good variety of local, regional, national, and international wines so that whether someone is attending the event for the first time or has attended all Main Street’s wine walks, they will find something they like. Nordby also credited the locally owned stores and strong density of retail in downtown Monroe for making this event such a hit amongst locals and out of towners. “It’s a fun night and we all need a few of those right now,” he said. 

Because of the ongoing pandemic, adjustments have been made so that samples are served in disposable cups with none being used twice, separate entrance and exit points at check-in when it is most congested, stores having different capacities, and food samples being individually served. Each store may have additional measures in place, as well. 

Tickets may be purchased by searching for the event — Downtown Monroe November Wine Walk — at Eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 608.328.4023. Anyone with questions is also encouraged to call.