The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, the second oldest festival in California following the Rose Parade, will be celebrating its 110th year this weekend, Sept. 28-30, at various locations in and around Sonoma’s famous plaza. The festival benefits many Valley community projects and non-profits, several of which operate booths providing information and selling concessions, including Mayacama’s Volunteer Fire Department, Dragons Head Productions, the Valley of the Moon Lions Club, Sonoma Valley High School Music Department, the Vintage House Senior Center, Woodland Star Charter School, Boy Scouts, Old Adobe School, Flowery School, American Legion, and the Valley of the Moon Pony Club.
A few non-profit organizations involved in the event receive direct support from the Festival’s proceeds. This year’s main beneficiaries include: Native Sons of the Golden West, Vineyard Workers Services, Boys and Girls Club Valley of the Moon and Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Student Scholarships.
The Native Sons of the Golden West (NSGW) was founded in 1875 to benefit and improve the social activities of native Californians, with an emphasis on promoting a lively interest in the state’s history from the “Days of ’49” to the present. The group’s accomplishments include the preservation of Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento and the Customs House in Monterey, working to get the Bear Flag adopted as the State Flag, and lobbying for the creation of the State Parks system, as well as its present sponsorship of several community programs to help young students and children.
Vineyard Workers Services, established in 1995, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the farm worker community with suitable housing, health services, training, referrals, and assistance in meeting their various other needs. The agency also features regular meetings of the VWS Farm Worker Advisory Committee, which enables workers to take part formally in directing the programs and goals of VWS.
The $2000 Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Student Scholarship is offered to seniors and graduates of Sonoma Valley High School involved in the wine industry. Interested students are encouraged to submit essays on viticulture and winemaking. Winners can use the scholarship at their discretion. David Komar, who studied at Cal Poly, was the tenth and most recent recipient of the award in 2002.
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Schedule
Friday 28
Patrons’ Night GalaTaste your way through the Sonoma Valley’s best food and wine offerings as you stroll under the stars at the historic Sonoma Barracks. Dance the night away to the musical stylings of the Richard Olsen Orchestra.6-10 pm. For tickets please contact 996.2109.
Saturday 29
Plaza Events
10 am Blessing of the GrapesJoin Sonoma dignitaries and festival present-ers at the historic Sonoma Mission for the Blessing of the Grapes, the traditional opening ceremony of the Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival.
11 am Bear Flag Revolt. Join us at the Sonoma Barracks for the exciting re-enactment of the Bear Flag Revolt, when 33 armed men rode into Sonoma Plaza and raised the first bear flag, declaring California an independent republic, free from Mexican rule. Performed by Sonoma Historic Re-Creation Society.
Free Live Music
Country Blues Stage
12:00 Jamie Clark & The Players
1:00 pm The Whiskey Thieves
2:00 pm Power Organ Trio
3:30 pm Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings
Latin Flavor Stage
12:00 Los Califas
1:15 pm Peones Del Norte
2:30 pm David Correa & Cascada
3:45 pm Bautista
Comedy
8:00 pm Comedy show at the Sebastiani Theatre Featuring the Suburban Comedy Tour. The Suburbans are four successful comedians, raised in four different decades in various suburbs around the Bay Area. Each of them has taken a different path through life, but they all share the unique quality of being able to make people laugh. Join The Suburban Comedy Tour as they share their hysterically unique perspectives on America’s suburban lifestyle. For tickets please contact 996.9756.
Sunday 30
Plaza Events
11 am Bear Flag RevoltJoin us at the Sonoma Barracks for the exciting re-enactment of the Bear Flag Revolt, when 33 armed men rode into Sonoma Plaza and raised the first bear flag, declaring California an independent republic, free from Mexican rule.
11:30 am Historic Vallejo-Haraszthy Wedding. Come watch this beautiful re-creation of the historic wedding of General Vallejo’s twin daughters to the two sons of the flamboyant vintner Count Agoston Haraszthy.
Noon Vintage Festival ParadeA charming, uniquely Sonoma, hometown parade complete with f;oats, marching bands and all local participation.
1:30 pm The KSVY Bottle & Glass Dash KSVY 91.3 Sonoma’s wacky relay race for teams of two down a historic Sonoma block. Fun to watch, more fun to participate. Racers – start your hula-hoops! In front of Sonoma Barracks.
2:30 pm Grape Stomp Competition An important Sonoma Valley tradition for young and old! Participate or enjoy the show as contestants bare their feet and stomp the grape in a competition to see who can produce the most juice! At the Grinstead Amphitheatre.
Free Live Music
Strings Stage
1:00 pm David Thom Band
2:30 pm Rich Little
3:40 pm Wayward Sway
Blues Fest
1:00 pm The Smokin’ Jaze
2:15 pm The Hellhounds
3:30 pm The Tommy Castro Band
For more information or to purchase tickets visit sonomavinfest.org or call 996.2109.
