Go from store to store and sample Iowa wines this Thursday in Washington’s downtown district. The annual Sip and Shop event is returning and is presented by Main Street Washington. Different businesses around the square will host area wineries. Participants can then go from store to store to sample those wines.

Main Street Washington Director Sarah Grunewaldt says the feedback she’s received from downtown businesses in the past is that the event draws in new people to their stores, “It brings a lot of new eyeballs to their store. This event does not just draw people from our community, it draws from a lot of places. We’ve had people drive in from other communities. And the resounding words I hear every year, and I know it drives them crazy sometimes is: ‘I’ve never been here before but I love this place,’ or, ‘I’m coming back tomorrow.’ And they see a lot of return visits afterwards because really the focus becomes the wine on the evening of the event. People do do a little window shopping, but they don’t necessarily buy a lot of stuff because there’s a lot of people around. It’s a big event. But they also come back and they purchase those sweaters they saw at Jaz it Up, or those pair of shoes at Brown’s Shoe Fit, or oh, wow, Dodici’s has so many cool little gifty items I’m coming back for my stocking stuffers.”

Sip and Shop on Thursday starts at 5 p.m. and coincides with the weekly Washington Farmers’ Market. Tickets and wristbands can be purchased in Central Park during the event or they can be pre-ordered online from the Main Street Washington Facebook page.