An evening of fine music, fine wine and fine food is coming to Joplin.

The 12th-annual 88.7 KXMS/Fine Arts Radio International Wine Tasting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce building located at 320 E. Fourth Street in Joplin.

Jeff Skibbe, general manager of KXMS, the classical music station that operates out of Webster Hall, said much of the station’s equipment is nearly 20 years old. The money raised by the wine tasting will go toward purchasing new, up-to-date technology, including a new transmitter tube.

“We are looking down the road at high-definition radio, and we have a lot of equipment to replace,” Skibbe said. “We are hoping to raise about $2,000 from the event.”

Skibbe said the event is a good way for people with common interests to come together

and meet face to face.

“Radio listening is primarily a solitary activity, and this way people with the same interests can actually get together and meet,” Skibbe said. “They can compare notes and see what they like.”

This year’s event will feature wine from three wineries: Mount Pleasant, St. James Winery and Stone Hill Winery.

The tasting will also feature food from Richardson’s Candy House, Club 1201, John Wise Home Bed and Breakfast, Café Angelica and Josie’s Ristorante.

Pat Hicklin, who owns and operates Richardson’s Candy House with her husband Terry, has been one of the event’s sponsors for the past four years.

Hicklin said the event, from a business standpoint, has less to do with publicity, and more to do with a general interest in supporting the arts in the local area.

“Terry and I are really interested in supporting the fine arts,” she said. “We do get our name in a little bit, but it’s more just our desire to help out.”

Hicklin said Richardson’s Candy House usually contributes three trays of chocolate-dipped strawberries.

“I think we are kind of the dessert-side of the evening,” she said.

Skibbe said the radio station, which is also nearly 20 years old, will use some of the funds from this year’s event to support the purchase of a new addition to the KXMS evening schedule, Exploring Music, with Bill McGlaughlin, who is the long-time host of Public Radio International’s St. Paul Sunday.

“The wine tasting always supports purchase of programming and new equipment to benefit listeners,” Skibbe said.

Anyone of legal drinking age is welcome at the event. Tickets are $20 per person, and may be reserved online with a credit card at www.klassixsociety.org.

Interested persons can also pay by check, made payable to The Klassix Society. Checks can be mailed to: The Klassix Society, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, Mo., 64801.