There's A Grape-Stomping Festival In Southern California And It's As Wacky And Wonderful As It Sounds
By Natasha Kayes|Published August 07, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Every season brings its own round of fun festivals and events in Southern California. Many of these are yearly events, celebrating all kinds of things from food and wine to flowers and music, to the arts, and even the seasons themselves. We just love getting outside, shopping, eating, and joining in fun activities, whatever it is that inspires us. If you are looking for a fun and relaxed event with a bit of a wacky twist, you just might love this grape-stomping festival in Temecula, CA.
Callaway Vineyard and Winery was founded in 1974, the first winery to open in the scenic Temecula Valley. It is a well-known destination for wine tasting, live music on weekends, and Meritage, its on-site farm-to-table restaurant.
It is also home to a fantastically fun, nostalgic, and a bit whacky festival - or, shall we say, party - centered around the grape harvest. The event takes place on August 26, 2023, at 6:30pm.
So, do you remember the scene from I Love Lucy (and let me say I find it hard to believe that anyone of any generation hasn’t seen this) when Lucy Ricardo found herself in a huge barrel in Italy stomping grapes?
Well, allow me to refresh your memory by telling you that Lucy starts out having a blast and ends up in a knock-down drag-out fight with some professional Italian grape-stomping women!
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Sip, Stomp & Play Annual Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival is your opportunity to live out your traditional grape-stomping dreams - sans the fighting in the wine vat!
Let your hair down, roll up your pant legs, and get your feet dirty in the grape-stomping competition (hint: you need a partner to collect all the juice you squeeze!) The winners earn fabulous prizes and, of course, bragging rights.
And the “Play” part? How about games, a hula-hoop contest, a pie-eating competition, a corn hole tournament, and more?
And what could be more fun than a Lucy look-alike contest?! Callaway invites you to “channel your inner Lucy” and “be a vintage Diva” for a day. Dress up as the famous grape-crusher herself and get the chance to win some great prizes!
With a garden, greenhouse, and gourmet restaurant on the premises, you know there will be plenty of mouthwatering, finely crafted food to go with the award-winning wines grown here. There will even be some amazing desserts provided by Scooters Sweet Shack Dessert Truck.
Tickets include admission, a glass of Callaway wine, dinner and dessert, games, dancing, and of course, grape stomping competitions - all with a view of the stunning vineyards.
This festival is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to let loose, have a blast, and create some unforgettable memories. Find all the details and purchase your tickets for Sip, Stomp & Play 2023 on the Callaway Vineyard and Winery website. Would you like to attend this whimsical grape-stomping festival? Want to make a weekend of it and spend the night in Temecula wine country? You’ll need somewhere to stay, so take a peek at this lovely, highly-rated cottage near Callaway Vineyard.
