Wine lovers have lots to look forward this weekend in Grapevine as the annual Grapefest opens for the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation. The People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic is a must do for vino drinkers and highlights the best wines from Texas and the Southwest, plus a special focus on wines from Australia during this year's 25th anniversary. Tickets are $20 each and include a souvenir wine glass.
Beyond the sampling, there's plenty to do -- including pulling out your best Lucille Ball impression as you participate in the classic GrapeStomp. Teams of two work together to trample around 18 pounds of grapes into juice in two minutes. Winners of the stomp get more than just juice between their tootsies, too. The "Coveted Purple Foot" award is given to the Grand Champion team of stompers. Entry is $10 for the contest, and official contestants must be over 13 -- though they'll let kids squash for free.
Speaking of the little ones, even those under drinking age should have a fun time at the large carnival and midway area, where a fair full of fun awaits those ready to spend some time on a Ferris wheel and other midway rides. We've enjoyed the view from atop the wheel, which gives a great look out to nearby DFW Airport, Gaylord Texan, and Lake Grapevine.
A special KidZone is also available for the little ones, with live children's entertainment and an exotic animal petting zoo. This year, the newly opened LEGOLAND Discover Center will be out with a junior building competition for two age groups: 5-9 years and 10-14 years. Contestants will work for about 20 minutes to complete a model, with winners in each heat moving on to a Sunday championship round.
Grapefest is also determined to keep everyone well fed with culinary sessions from food and wine experts in their Culinary Pavilion and great food booths throughout the festival. From burritos to berry kabobs, there's a huge mix of delicious options for lunch and dinner within the fest.
Admission to the festival is free all day on Thursday and on Friday until 5 p.m. After that, through Sunday at 6 p.m., Adults get in for $8, with Seniors and Children (6-12) in for $5 per day. A full weekend pass pin is $18 with souvenir pins at $23. Food, drink, carnival tickets and other activities may have additional costs.
For additional information -- including crucial notes about how to get through the DFW Connector project to reach the fest -- head to the official City of Grapevine page for Grapefest by clicking here.
