Destination Wine Country

9 wineries, 100 samples, 3 days of fun. Make the most of Wine Fest by drinking in all the activities!

The 44th annual Wine Fest will be held September 26-28 in downtown North East, giving individuals the chance to sip, taste, dance, shop, and play. Sample first-rate award-winning wine from local wineries or buy the whole bottle to sip while enjoying live music, delicious food, and sweet treats all in one place! The Wine Fest is brought to you by Enjoy North East and is supported by ECGRA, VFW POST 4789, The Skunk and Goat Tavern, Widget Financial, First National Bank, and Ray Wakley’s Car Care and RV Center.

Sip:

This year’s Wine Fest will feature nine local wineries selling red, white, sparkling, and blush wines, along with other unique blends and flavors. Purchase a single-day or weekend pass. Each ticket includes an unlimited sampling from every winery, a token that can be used to purchase any bottle of wine to drink on-site, and a souvenir glass to sip along the way.

Taste:

Stroll down food truck lane near the back of the park to purchase sandwiches, fries, wraps, tacos, mac and cheese bowls, funnel cakes, and more. Venture through the park and find homemade snack mixes, smoked meats and jerky, nuts, and specialty chocolates to enjoy.

Pie Time: Stop by the Episcopal Church on 51 W Main St. to pick up a homemade grape pie. Volunteers make over 300 pies each year, so hurry while supplies last! Pre-orders are welcome; please call 814-725-4679 to reserve yours today.

Harvest Dinner: The Skunk and Goat Tavern will be presenting a 4-course Harvest Dinner taking place this year on Thursday, September 25th at 6 p.m. This dinner and local wine pairing is a great way to kick off the Wine Fest Weekend! A limited number of tickets are available. To reserve your spot and see the full menu and drink list, visit skunkandgoattavern.com.

Dance:

Sway along to endless live music all weekend by some of the best local bands playing music from a variety of eras and genres. Starting on Friday with Parker HD, South of 90, Rick and the Roadhouse Rockers; continued by Savage Daughter, Acoustic Gypsies, House of Rhythm, Tennessee Back Porch, and Selleena on Saturday; concluded by Twist-O-Matics, and Grizzled on Sunday.

Shop:

Browse the rows of regional entrepreneurs selling handmade soaps and lotions, laser-cut and permanent jewelry, hand-spun pottery, crochet plushies, bags, and fashion, local driftwood creations, and much, much more! Mums, pumpkins, grapes, apples, baked goods, and more are ripe for the picking at local agribusiness booths.

Play:

Kids Zone: Don’t forget to take the little ones across the street to Heard Park to race through the obstacle course bounce house, play a few rounds of gaga ball, partake in pumpkin decorating, presented by the Little Miss Pageant, or purchase snow cones from The Door – a local non-profit.

Walk/Run: The 14th annual Wine Fest 5k steps off from Gibson Park at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 27th. Cost is $20 and includes post-race refreshments and a T-shirt. Proceeds benefit Downtown North East and North East in Bloom. A great way to start your day and see beautiful downtown North East. Contact Tracey Jenks at tjenks33@gmail.com with questions. Register at runsignup.com/race/pa/northeast/stridestomp5k

Car Show: On Saturday, Scout Troop #82 will be hosting the Wine Fest Cruise-In from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Peruse the rows of classic cars in Heard Park. Participation costs $5 per car. Three prizes will be awarded for the following categories: best pre-1975 model, best 1975 model, and best 1975 to present model. The rain date for this event is Sunday, September 28th, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. To be a part of the show, contact Roger Schultz at 814-882-1117.

All Aboard: Get a front row view of historic North East by way of free horse & carriage rides leaving Heard Park regularly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Wine Fest is proudly presented by Enjoy North East. Ticket sales support their operating budget and help bring other family-friendly events to the community year-round.

For more information, visit nechamber.org or email info@nechamber.org.