EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Various wineries from Branson to Excelsior Springs provided samples during the annual Wine Festival, which included live music and crafts June 12 on Lovers Lane in Excelsior Springs. Downtown Excelsior Partnership Director Lindsay Baxter said the festival began 15 years ago in The Elms’ backyard. Now, she said, attendance is made up of 80% tourists and 20% community members. The festival provides a great way to show off the town and some great wines, Baxter said. After COVID-19 canceled the 2020 festival and after a storm scare this year, Baxter gave thanks for Parks and Rec and volunteers who came after the storm with chainsaws to get everything cleaned up to make the event possible. VanTill Winery, in the Rayville area since 2009, joined wineries that participated in the affair. The winery has wood-fired pizzas on the weekend and 26 wines. All VanTill wines are made from grapes grown on Missouri farms, including its ow...