Here comes Vintage Fest!

This year’s Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, a celebration of bountiful grape harvests, amazing local culinary creations and rich cultural history, gets underway on Friday, September 28.

Kicking off the weekend festivities is the Opening Night Gala with food and wine tastings, live music from Riptide and a silent auction.

Throughout the weekend all around the historic Sonoma Plaza, visitors can taste wine from more than 30 premium wineries while strolling through the plaza browsing beautiful art from Bay area and local artists.

“We love Sonoma. The rich history, amazing culture and world-renowned wine all make Sonoma and the Vintage Festival so special,” said Maria Toimil, president of the festival’s board of directors.

Additional events include blessing of the grapes, salami toss, grape stomping competitions, 5K and 12K races and Get Your Glow On parade. The Vintage Festival will also have live music throughout the weekend, featuring musical acts from a variety of genres and decades headlines by Commander Cody and his Western Airmen.

Each year, the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival chooses local organizations as beneficiaries of the ticket sales and festival fees. Community organizations, such as Girl Scouts, Native Sons of the Golden West and Sonoma Valley High School sports teams, receive up to 100 percent of the proceeds.

Vintage Festival is free and open to the public. Tickets for wine tastings and events, including the Opening Night Gala are available online at www.valleyofthemoonvintagefestival.com.

2018 Vintage Festival highlights

Friday,  September 28

Opening night gala, with food and wine stations, plus live music with the dance band Notorious. 7-10 p.m. Sonoma Barracks. $125.

Saturday September 29

10 a.m. Blessing of the Grapes, Mission San Francisco Solano.

11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Plaza party with 70 artist booths, food and wine vendors, beer garden, grape stomp (noon), and live music from six bands headlined at 5:30 by Commander Cody and his Western Airmen.

Dusk. ‘Get Your Glow On’ parade around the Plaza.

Sunday, September 30

8 a.m. 5k and 12k runs begin on the Plaza. Pre-registration required.

11 a.m. All the Saturday fun, plus Firefighter Water Fight and benefit grape stomp at 2 p.m.

4 p.m. See you next year!