Date: Sat. Sept 27th - Fri, Sat, Sun, October 3rd, 4th & 5th 2008

Time: Friday 10am - 8 pm , Saturday 9am - 7pm, Sunday 10

Description:

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is the single best wine tasting event in Sonoma Wine Country and is held at the beginning of October annually. The Sonoma County Harvest Fair features wine tasting as well as carnival rides, petting zoo, grape stomp, produce displays, and lots of family fun. Wineries from all over may enter their Sonoma County - sourced wines in the wine competition, which is judged by some of the world's most respected wine judges. The center of attraction is the festival pavilion, where the winners pour their wines at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, making it an opportunity to try hundreds of the county's best wines in one stop.

Over 1000 wines compete for top honors. Lots of family fun too. Another great attraction at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair is the World Championship Grape Stomp. I guarantee you have seen nothing like it before! Check out the grape stomp video here.

Overall the Sonoma County Harvest Fair is one of our favorites. There is something about the crisp fall air that creates a certain electricity, crush is in progress or over for most and everyone at the fair is in great spirits. If you really want to get a feel of what Sonoma County is like, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair typifies the Sonoma County spirit.

UPDATE!

NEW SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR EVENTS! - Friday October 3 open from 3 – 7 p.m. for wine tasting, food prepared by local chefs. This is the all-inclusive tasting for $40.

NEW MICROBREW EVENT- Saturday Only 1- 5pm.

All other features of the Harvest Fair, including the new miniature donkey show, are open on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 – 5, 10 a.m – 7 p.m.

Notables:

SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Awards Night Gala Saturday, Sept. 27 7 – 9:30 tickets $65 black tie optional

Friday All-Inclusive Tasting Friday, Oct. 3 3 – 7 p.m. (wine pavilion and store only are open; store stays open until 8 p.m.) $40 includes unlimited wine tasting plus 2 food coupons

Saturday, Oct. 4 Harvest Fair 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Microbrew Tasting in the Village 1 – 5 p.m. ($15 glass plus 5 tastes)
• Wine Tasting 12: 30 – 5 p.m. ($7 glass plus 2 tastes; addl. tastes 4 for $6)
• Port & Chocolate Garden 12 – 7 p.m.
• World Championship Grape Stomp noon – 5
• Free wine seminars and chef demonstrations
• Animal, agricultural, art, crafts, and commercial exhibits open all day
• Ongoing jazz performances in Shade Park all day
• Free kids activities and contests all day, including maze and haunted house, free horse-drawn wagon rides
• Awe-inspiring apple display with free sampling of varietals, pies and juice.

Harvest Fair Art Reception, Show & Sale Saturday, Oct. 4 7 – 9 p.m. Reception held in Finley Hall $20, includes wine and appetizers; Show and Sale open throughout Saturday & Sunday.

Sunday, Oct. 5 Harvest Fair 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Harvest Fair Run to benefit YMCA 8 a.m.
• Wine Tasting 12: 30 – 5 p.m. ($7 glass plus 2 tastes)
• Port & Chocolate Garden 12 – 7 p.m.
• World Championship Grape Stomp noon – 5
• Free wine seminars and chef demonstrations
• Animal, agricultural, art, crafts, and commercial exhibits open all day
• Ongoing jazz performances in Shade Park all day
• Free kids activities and contests all day, including maze and haunted house, free horse-drawn wagon rides
• Fourth Annual Search for the Giant Pumpkin. Giant pumpkins start arriving 10 a.m.; judging is at 1 p.m. in the Village
• Awe-inspiring apple display with free sampling of varietals, pies and juice. Apple Sale 6 p.m. in the Garden Building.

General Admission: Adults $6, Seniors (60 and better) $4, Children 7 – 12 $2, children 6 and younger free. Prices for tasting and special events are as noted above.

Also new this year is the Miniature Donkey Show, which will be in Chris Beck Arena. The diminutive donkeys will join the llamas, pet pigs, pygmy goats, sheep dogs, pigeons, turkeys, geese and ducks that delight Harvest Fair visitors year after year. Highlights include:
• Rabbit Show Horse Barn Sat. Oct 5 until 2 p.m.
• Sheep Dog Trials Lyttle Cow Palace Sun., Oct. 5 1 p.m.
• Poultry & Waterfowl on Display in Poultry Building Sat. & Sun. Oct. 4 – 5
• Miniature Donkeys on Display in Chris Beck Arena Sat. & Sun. Oct. 4 – 5
• Llama Obstacle Course Lyttle Cow Palace Sat. Oct. 4 10 a.m.
• Llama Pack Classes, Dressage 9 – 2 p.m., “Show-offmanship” 2 p.m. Lyttle Cow Palace Sun. Oct. 5
• Llama Parade through the fairgrounds 3 p.m. Sat. Oct. 4 & noon Sun. Oct. 5
• Pet Pig Judging Sat. Oct. 4 10 a.m. & Sun. Oct. 5 11 a.m.; Pet Pigs on Display in Swine Barn Sat. & Sun. Oct. 4 – 5
• Pygmy Goats on Display Sheep Barn Sat. & Sun. Oct. 4 - 5

Adding to the excitement of the Harvest Fair this year will be Bob Blumer, host and creator of the Food Network’s “Glutton for Punishment” show. Blumer’s challenge for a week will be to train for—and make the finals of—the Harvest Fair’s World Championship Grape Stomp. How will Blumer measure up against locally-grown champions (and the only all-female team to ever win the title) Tamara and Ashleigh Dunn? “You’ll just have to be there and see for yourself,” advises Quince.

More details on and tickets for the 2008 Sonoma County Harvest Fair and the Awards Night Gala are available at www.harvestfair.org or by calling 707-545-4203.

Address: 1350 Bennett Valley Rd

City: Santa Rosa

State: California

Zip: 95404

Phone number: 707.545.4203

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it