WINEFEST is back! This annual Lake County Home Wine and Beer Makers’ Festival happens this Saturday from noon to five p.m. at Lakeport’s beautiful Library Park. This family-friendly event is the largest fundraiser for the Lake County Symphony Association; all proceeds support LCSA activities, including the Lake County Symphony, the LCSA Adult and Youth Concert Orchestra, and in-school youth music classes and scholarship programs. It’s all about “Making Wine for Music,” say event organizers from the LCSA Wine Club who coined the phrase.
General admission is free. Wine and beer tasters will pay for a “tasting ticket” to enjoy samples provided by home wine and beer makers and some of Lake County’s finest commercial wineries. Since its start decades ago by local winemakers and music lovers, amateur winemakers and brewers from all over Northern California have been sharing their creations with the public at WINEFEST. Those without a taste for the grape can partake of everything else the event offers at no charge. Explore dozens of booths offering arts, crafts, sweets, and agricultural products. Savor delicious food supplied by La Catrina’s Mexican food and Island Fire Hawaiian BBQ (among others). Keep cool with icy treats from Villas’s Snow Cones. Stop by the Symphony booth and meet long-time Conductor John Parkinson.
The popular Wine Barrel Raffle is open to everyone and now has two drawings during the day, giving each lucky winner two cases of assorted Lake County wines. The Silent Auction, another WINEFEST favorite, offers a variety of unique items, including exotic trips and original art generously donated by businesses and individuals.
Live music is another WINEFEST tradition. Vickie Guillory & the Sugar Cats will entertain the crowd this year with their electrifying blend of hard-hitting Blues, Rock, and Funk. The band delivers crowd favorites by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Eric Clapton, KC & the Sunshine Band, and Jimi Hendrix.
Admission to WINEFEST is $30 per taster with advance purchase (no sharing please!) or $35 at the gate and includes a commemorative wine glass for early birds. Advance tickets are available at Watershed Books and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about WINEFEST (and for a link to order advance tickets online), go to lakecountywinefest.com.
