The 13th annual Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair kicks off next month and attendance is on track to meet last year’s numbers, officials said. Juliette Bloomer, the event’s director, said about 75 percent of the more than 10,000 tickets sold last year were from outside Fort Bend County. The event’s length—five days from April 6-10—is unique for the Greater Houston area, Bloomer said. The multiday schedule allows visitors to participate in a range of activities, from the VIP LangeTwins Vintner Dinner on April 6 from 6:30-9 p.m., to the Bistro Brunch on April 10 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. “We always try to make it bigger and better,” Bloomer said. “It’s putting Sugar Land out there in a national sense.” Aside from attendees, participating chefs and vendors from outside Texas are coming from Georgia, California, Massachusetts, Maine and Mexico. This year’s VIP dinner theme is “All in the Family,” with twin brothers and vintners Randy and Charlene Lange leading a five-course dinner. A different celebrity chef prepares each course. About 40 chefs are participating in the event throughout its duration. Bloomer said the Sugar Land Wine and Food Affair’s most popular event is usually the Sip and Stroll—April 9 from 1-4 p.m.—which allows visitors to walk the parking lot of Constellation Field and sample beers, wines and bites from several different restaurants. A beer garden with 25 breweries will also be available for the Sip and Stroll, which Bloomer said has sold about 4,000 tickets to date. Each year, the Wine and Food Affair benefits the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Bloomer said about 200 student volunteers studying hospitality and hotel restaurant management will work the event for course credit. “They get great experience,” she said.