5 Reasons You Should Go to the Sonoma Harvest Festival This Year

From September 30 through October 2, 2016, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the best of the region at the Sonoma Harvest Festival. The farmers, ranchers, vintners and artisans display Sonoma’s bounty at this celebrated event.

For more than 40 years, the Sonoma Harvest Festival has showcased the county’s grand harvest of world-class wines, award-winning beers, and culinary delights. In fact, the festival itself is award-winning. Last year, more than 26,000 people voted the Harvest Festival the Best Annual Festival of Sonoma County in The Press Democrat.

Join travelers from more than 30 states in making this pilgrimage to Santa Rosa, which is about an hour’s drive from Napa. It’s the ultimate farm-to-table experience. And, when you stay at Churchill Manor, you can spend a lovely day exploring the festival and return in enough time to grab a bite in town and relax in your luxurious room.

Here are 5 great reasons you should go to this year’s Sonoma Harvest Festival.

1. The Tasting Pavilion

At the Tasting Pavilion, you can sample outstanding wines in daily seminars, food, beer and cider. The Tasting Pavilion is truly the heart of the Sonoma County Harvest Festival: innovative cuisine and beverage pairings are the hallmark.

Come thirsty…more than 100 Sonoma County wineries participate and offer tastings of some 500 wines. You will not run out of delightful discoveries. If you purchase a Grand Harvest Tasting ticket, you will even get to taste the winning wine and food from this year’s Professional Wine, Food and Restaurant Competitions.

Note: The Tasting Pavilion is only open to adults 21 and over.

2. The Marketplace

You won’t want to miss the Wine Country Marketplace, located just inside the front gates in the Hall of Flowers Building. Start your day by perusing the hand-crafted wares of local artisans and vendors. Finish the day by purchasing your new favorite wines. Collectors will find an assortment of gold medal beverages for sale.

Plus, the prices are great! You’ll get 5% off each bottle, 10% off 6-11 bottle purchase, 15% off full case purchase (12 bottles).

3. Chef Demonstrations

The Sonoma County Harvest Festival’s famous Chef Demonstrations show you how to translate the best of Sonoma County into your cuisine. Don’t worry, all the demonstrations are scheduled before the wine tasting pavilion opens, so you won’t miss out.

 4. The World Championship Grape Stomp Around the Grounds

One of the most raucous and fun things to do at the festival is the Grape Stomp. This hilarious, action-packed competition (think Lucy Ricardo stomping grapes!) features teams of two (one stomper and one “swabby”).

Funny team t-shirts and outrageous costumes are encouraged. Plus, stomp teams come in all sizes and ages. There is one stomp reserved for teams ages 13 & under, all competing for a Grand Prize of $1,500!

5. The Scenery

Located just an hour away, our Churchill Manor is a serene, beautiful place to stay for your Harvest Festival experience. Aside from our luxurious accommodations, our location provides a unique opportunity: a gorgeous drive through Sonoma County.

Come and savor the picture postcard landscapes, leisurely motor along our scenic routes, and set the stage for your festival-going experience.

Simply take Highway 12 and get off at the Downtown exit. Upon reaching the surface street, Bennett Valley Road, you will come to a stoplight, and just in front of you on your right will be the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

Check now for availability, and don’t forget to download our free area Vacation Guide to help you plan the stops along your route.

Photo Credit: Ingram Publishing / Thinkstock