The 36th annual event includes four days of wine tastings, live music, carnival rides and more, according to a July 7 news release. This year’s GrapeFest will be held Sept. 15-18 in historic Grapevine.
Several wine-themed events are hosted within GrapeFest. The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic is a competition with more than 30 Texas wineries. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to sample over 100 wines and vote for their favorite whites and reds. Eight 90-minute tasting sessions will be held throughout the weekend. Tasting sessions are $25 in advance and $28 at the festival. VIP tasting sessions can be purchased for $50 and include live music, gourmet charcuterie and a souvenir wine glass.
Attendees may sample wine from Sonoma County, California, and international wines from Sicily, Italy, with live music at the Liberty Park Plaza Wine Experience. Attendees may purchase a wine flight tasting card with six one-ounce pours from a selection of 12 wines. Additional flights and wines by the glass may be purchased. Tasting cards are $18 in advance or $20 at the festival.
Other signature events include the Champagne Terrace, the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off and the GrapeStomp competition. Family-friendly events and activities include carnival games and rides; a Kid Zone with interactive activities from Legoland Discovery Center, Sea Life Aquarium and Peppa Pig; as well as arts and crafts.
Along the north end of Main Street, attendees can shop from artisan and vendor booths. Classic festival food, such as corn dogs, turkey legs and funnel cakes can also be purchased at the festival.
GrapeFest has partnered with Trinity Metro’s TEXRail to offer festivalgoers a ride to and from the festival. Attendees may park for free at a TEXRail station and ride the train to the Grapevine/Main Street Station, which stops at the festival entrance. Riders who use GoPass to purchase TEXRail tickets will be given a 50% discount on their roundtrip ticket and $2 off their festival admission.
Hours and admission:
- Thursday, Sept. 15: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., free admission all day
- Friday, Sept. 16: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., paid admission after 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 17: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., paid admission
- Sunday, Sept. 18: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., paid admission
Daily admission is $10 for adults; $5 for seniors age 62 and older; $5 for children ages 6-12; and free for children age 5 and under. A weekend pass for the entire festival can be purchased for $20.
For more information, call 817-410-3185 or email [email protected]. Tickets and information on the festival’s schedule can be found www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapefest.
