For nearly three decades GrapeFest has been the Southwestern United States’ ultimate celebration of wine. Not only is it a wine celebration but it's a showcase for a diverse group of Texas wines. Unknown to people outside of Texas and oenophiles, the state is actually in the top five of wine producing states. With the historic city of Grapevine as the backdrop to the event, there is an added level of depth and entertainment to the festival. In addition to all the wine related fun, you can visit the local museums, boutique shops and historical landmarks. This festival draws over 250,000 people from Texas and all over the country during the four-day run, and it’s a great festival for all ages.
Adults will love the comprehensive list of wines to and the events tied to tasting the different wines. Kids will be over the moon about the range of activities for them to enjoy including the carnival and midway. Everyone will love the food spread available with popular carnival items from cotton candy to turkey legs. If you want to get away from the festival fare then make your way to the historic main street where you’ll find a range of different and delicious restaurants. GrapeFest is also a celebration of culture and art. You’ll find craft makers and artisans ready to talk their products and to sell their creations. With so much to offer GrapeFest is a can't miss destination for wine lovers and fans of festivals. We got the opportunity to interview festival representative Leigh Lyons about the event and all the fun it entails.
RAL: Tell me about GrapeFest in general, who attends and what makes it unique.
LL: This year marks the 29th Annual GrapeFest, A Wine Experience, presented by Bank of the West. In 2014, GrapeFest had an attendance of 266,170. With so many activities that are perfect for all ages, GrapeFest offers something for everyone. Families will enjoy the KidsWorld area featuring LEGOLAND® Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Adults will enjoy all the different wine experiences throughout the four-day event. And other activities such as the artisans and marketplace, the festival food and the live entertainment are perfect for everyone.
GrapeFest is the largest wine festival in the Southwest and offers a special focus on Texas wines. Texas is the fifth-largest wine producing state in the U.S. and each year, GrapeFest celebrates Texas wine. One of the exciting activities is the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, which features the opportunity for guests to sample more than 162 wines from 43 Texas wineries. This is a separate ticketed event and sessions do sell out so buy your tickets early! Each year, in addition to Texas wines, GrapeFest offers a special area of focus on wines from another U.S. state and an international destination. This year, GrapeFest is focusing on Oregon and Argentina. This is an opportunity for festival guests to meet winemakers from Oregon and a wine consultant from Argentina. In addition, it’s a great place to try wines not normally available in Texas.
RAL: Walk me through a typical day at the event including activities, dining, guest appearances etc.
LL: Some of the favorite festival events include the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation; GrapeStomp; the Champagne Terrace; the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off, KidsWorld; GrapeFest Tennis Classic; live entertainment and much more! Throughout the weekend, several well-known musical acts will perform on a variety of festival stages. For example, this year GrapeFest will welcome acts such as Kristian Bush of Sugarland, AWB and Jonathan Jackson from TV’s Nashville + Enation and Midnight River Choir.
There’s plenty of delicious dishes at GrapeFest! Traditional festival foods such as turkey legs, corn dogs, funnel cakes and more are available all weekend and don’t miss your chance to experience Cousin’s Maine Lobster. And of course, all of the restaurants located along Grapevine’s Historic Main Street are open throughout the festival. GrapeFest takes place along a one mile stretch of Grapevine’s Historic Main Street, which is home to many buildings located on the National Register of Historic Places.
RAL: What can people visiting Grapevine expect for local lodging?
LL: Grapevine is home to more than 20 hotels offering more than 5,000 hotel rooms to suit every taste and budget. A few of them include the Great Wolf Lodge, Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center, Homewood Suites by Hilton. Many of Grapevine’s hotels offer special packages during GrapeFest. The best place to find these offers will be on the GrapeFest website, which is GrapevineTexasUSA.com/GrapeFest.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
LL: More than 2,000 volunteers from Grapevine, including many civic and service groups, donate countless hours every year to volunteering during the festival. By holding a festival such as GrapeFest and showcasing the city, it encourages guests to return at other times during the year to shop in Grapevine’s stores, dine in the restaurants, stay in the hotels and visit the attractions.
GrapeFest is a great way to introduce visitors to the city! Grapevine is also home to year-round attractions such as the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium, Grapevine Mills, Lake Grapevine and more. In addition, the area hosts other annual festivals and events such as Christmas Capital of Texas®, Main Street Fest, SummerBlast and many more throughout the year. Proceeds from GrapeFest benefit historic preservations projects throughout the City of Grapevine.