Food tables along the course allow participants to sample culinary delights from a variety of Capital City eateries.

Viles Arboretum in Augusta will present its popular annual Table Tour on Sunday, February 7. Last year, over three hundred participants gathered to snowshoe, ski or hike on the groomed trails while sampling culinary delights supplied by a variety of restaurants and food providers from the Capital City area.

After enjoying delicious fare from hearty chowder to fresh baked breads, no one leaves the event with an appetite, especially after ending with a dessert and a cup of freshly brewed coffee or other warm beverage. It’s a great way to get some fun outdoor activity before settling down to watch the big game. Trails will open at 11 a.m., trail foods will be served until 1 p.m., and desserts, coffee and hot beverages will be served at the main building, located at the end of the course, until 2 p.m.

“This is the only event of its kind that I know of, and it’s a great opportunity to get outdoors, meet some new people, enjoy some terrific food, and support the programs and initiatives of the Arboretum,” said Executive Director Mark DesMeules. “This year, the course will feature dozens of beautiful stone sculptures that are part of the Arboretum’s Sculpture and Nature Project at various points along the trail.”

Tickets are $25 ($22.50 for members) or $10 for kids ages ten and under. There is no charge for toddlers. Groups may purchase a block of five tickets or more for an employee, family or social outing at a special rate of $15 per ticket. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the Arboretum at 626-7989 or from 10 to 11 a.m. on the day of the event.

Viles Arboretum maintains 20 botanical collections across its 224 acres of fields, forests, and wetlands, all centrally located at 153 Hospital Street in Augusta. It offers an ever-changing selection of natural history programs, with a focus on interactive, creative and hands-on learning, for the general public and schools. For more information about the Arboretum and its programs, call 626-7989 or see www.vilesarboretum.org.