By Darlene Brace
Mark your calendars! The Grapes and Hops Festival is back at the Northwest Arena in Jamestown on Saturday, April 26th. Join the community for a fantastic afternoon filled with delicious beverage tastings, food, and entertainment. This festival is a one-day adult event, making it a perfect outing for socializing with family and friends and mingling with others in the community.
You can look forward to sampling a wide variety of amazing selections of beverages from breweries, distilleries, and wineries from both New York and Pennsylvania. The area in and near Chautauqua County is a key part of Lake Erie Wine Country, featuring over 20 wineries along the beautiful shores of Lake Erie. Many of these local favorites as well as others will be present to share their delicious offerings. This event attracts both locals and visitors eager to explore the fantastic world of craft beverages and includes award-winning wines and microbrews, many made using local ingredients.
beers, ciders, seltzers, and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages
Get ready for a fantastic event as the ice arena transforms into an exciting space filled with tables and booths where you can sample exceptional wines, beers, ciders, seltzers, and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Wine enthusiasts will be delighted by the diverse selection of wines available for tasting, including sweet, dry, and mead options. During the event, you can buy bottles of wine to take home; however, please remember that any bottle you purchase cannot be opened on-site. The arena will provide a wine room where you can safely store your purchased bottles until you are ready to leave.
This event will feature over fifty vendors showcasing local artisans, specialty items, and a variety of food options. Live music entertainment will begin around 1:30pm and will feature the return of the Midnight Growlers. This band plays a diverse range of music, including classic rock and oldies to more modern hits. Their fun, danceable cover songs are sure to please any crowd.
As in previous years, there are VIP and general admission tickets available. VIP ticket holders can enter one hour early starting at 1pm and will receive a commemorative pint glass. In addition, VIP guests will have exclusive access to the VIP Lounge, which offers them complimentary light bites. There are a limited number of VIP tickets available, priced at $50 presale and $60 at the door.
General admission ticket holders are invited to attend from 2pm-5pm and will receive a commemorative tasting glass. General admission tickets are priced at $35 presale and $45 at the door.
To help ensure the safety of all attendees, designated driver tickets are available for $10. This year, a larger selection of non-alcoholic beverages will be offered to sample. It is also important to note that this is a 21-year-old and over-only event, and everyone needs to show ID for entry.
Tonja Rinaldo, who is the Northwest Arena’s Director of Marketing and Events said, “The Grapes and Hop’s Festival continues to be a very popular and successful community event. This year we have elevated the non-alcoholic drink experience and have a great selection of wineries and breweries represented. We would like to thank all the businesses that are in attendance at this year’s event and a special thanks to Media One Radio Group and our other sponsors for their support in making this event possible.”
The Grapes and Hops Festival has become a beloved event in Jamestown, whose residents eagerly look forward to the Grapes and Hops Festival each year. It’s a great opportunity to socialize and reconnect with friends while tasting a variety of local brews and wines without committing to a whole bottle. Many attendees end up buying a few of their favorites to enjoy at home.
This festival not only offers fantastic wine tasting but also features entertainment and vendors, making it a fun-filled adult event. Each year, it continues to grow while showcasing local breweries, wineries, and distilleries. It remains a favorite event among the locals while giving visitors a great event to attend while they are here.
If you want more information or you want to purchase Grape and Hops presale tickets, you can go to the Northwest Arena’s Facebook page, visit northwestarena.com, or eventbrite.com.