New culinary festivals in the Cape Fear region are experiencing success, as evidenced by yet another Taste of Wrightsville Beach.

The 5-9 p.m. Oct. 12 event at MarineMax East, 130 Short St., follows 2012’s popular inaugural occasion that went off despite Superstorm Sandy’s presence, which forced the festival indoors at the last minute, organizer Lisa Weeks said.

Fourteen restaurants and 14 beer or wine vendors will supply tastings at the 2013 festival. Participants include Dockside, 22 North, South Beach Grill, Bluewater Grill, King Neptune, Tower 7 and Shell Island Resort.

On the list of beverage suppliers are One Hope Winery, Juice Purveyors and Wilmington’s Kind Beers and Good Vibes Brewing.

A Best in Show award will be bestowed by celebrity judges, including chef Eric Gephart, former owner of Buoy 32, a popular seafood restaurant that once existed on the Wrightsville Beach causeway. Gephart has since become lead instructor at The Chef’s Academy culinary school in Morrisville.

A People’s Choice Award will be decided by popular vote.

“We had almost 500 in attendance last year in spite of Superstorm Sandy and expect the same this year as we will cap attendance,” Weeks said.

Taste of Wrightsville Beach 2012 was supposed to happen outside, near Robert’s Grocery, but stormy weather relocated festivities to a banquet room at Blockade Runner. Despite the change, restaurants set up their stations, and the room’s center hosted an oyster roast.

Weeks didn’t take any chances with a sole outdoor location this year. MarineMax provides and indoor/outdoor option, she said.

“We are excited about the new venue on the waterfront at MarineMax. They will have their boats on display with football games broadcasting,” she said.

General admission is $50 per person in advance, and $75 at the door if advance tickets do not sell out. Proceeds benefit downtown Wrightsville Beach beautification and the New Hanover County Weekend Meals on Wheels Program. Last year, proceeds aided the food outreach mission Stop Hunger Now.

“We raised almost $7,000 last year and hope to double it,” Weeks said.

To purchase tickets, go to www.wrightsvillebeachfoundation.org/taste-of-wrightsville-beach.

Other new food festivals in the area include the Wilmington Wine & Food Festival, which stages its second event in May 2014, and the downtown Truck-A-Roo food truck rally, scheduled for a third run Nov. 2.