Yadkin Valley Wine Festival

Celebrate North Carolina’s wine country at the 18th annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival on Saturday, May 18, at Elkin Municipal Park.

 

This popular festival combines tasting opportunities from 20 wineries with live music in a family-friendly park setting. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs for a relaxing day of sampling the latest vintages from many of North Carolina’s premier vineyards.

 

Music plays a big role in the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. The dance area near the stage draws lots of folks, while others enjoy the soulful sounds from the seating areas. This year’s headliner is the legendary beach band The Catalinas, taking the stage from 3-5 p.m. Legacy Motown Review is back by popular demand, performing from noon to 2 p.m.

 

Food trucks and vendors provide everything from basic festival food to gourmet crab cakes, while the afternoon grape stomp, featuring 100 pounds of grapes, is always a big hit with both children and adults.

 

“This festival raises a glass to the Yadkin Valley and what it means to North Carolina. Not only does it draw a lot of in-state people, folks plan vacations around the festival from places like Florida, Georgia, Ohio and even California,” says organizer Myra Cook of the Yadkin Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve had people get engaged and come back as married couples.”

 

The event offers two perks of convenience. The first is a wine check service for those who purchase bottles and prefer not to carry them around all day. Purchases are taken directly to a tent near the exit and held for pick-up as patrons leave. The second perk is $5 shuttle service all afternoon to/from hotels in the Elkin area.

 

Cycling enthusiasts can start the day by riding the Tour de Vino, which offers five rides ranging from 30 to 100 miles and includes complimentary admission to the wine festival.