Fall is a popular time for food festivals all around the Golden State, so this edition will focus on some of those offerings.
For the third consecutive year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has officially proclaimed September as “California Wine Month,” and many of the state’s 2,000 wineries are hosting fun events to celebrate, some of which are listed on the state’s new wine events site here.
Below you will find a sampling of some other fun fall events in California. (Venues often host similar events from year to year, although the dates of the events may change. Web addresses are provided so you can check for current dates and times.)
If you’re looking for events in a different season, please see the “Related Posts” links at the bottom of this article.
North Coast
Malbec, Merlot and Mushrooms – a celebration of wine and mushrooms – will be held from 6-10:00pm on November 10, 2007, at the Mendocino Hotel. Join us for fabulous local wines from the Anderson Valley’s Greenwood Ridge and Yorkville Cellars, a gourmet dining experience and speakers Paul West and Eric Cerecedes, who will educate us on mycomedicine.
“Scientists have only recently confirmed what ancient cultures have known for centuries: mushrooms have within them some of the most potent medicines found in nature. We know that their cellular constituents can profoundly improve the quality of human health.” ~Paul Stamets, mycologist and author
Cost is $90.00 plus tax and gratuity per person. Please contact the hotel or jbuckner@mcn.org for further information.
Shasta & Cascades
Join us in Paradise, CA on 10/6 & 7 for the second largest event on the Paradise Ridge, the annual Johnny Appleseed Days festival, recognizing the early 19th Century American folk hero (known as John Chapman) who traveled for decades across the Midwest planting apple seeds and encouraging settlers to plant apple orchards. The event runs Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday, 9am to 4pm.
Wine Country
On September 7, 2007, Buena Vista Carneros winery in Sonoma is celebrating its 150th anniversary with a sumptuous food and wine event. There have been a lot of changes at the winery in the last five years. Come check them out!
Also, Petaluma has many new restaurants, and the second annual Taste of Petaluma on September 29, from noon to 4pm, is the perfect way to sample them all in one day. You can find all the details here.
San Francisco Bay Area
If you’re going to be in the Bay Area this fall, however, you may want to coordinate your trip to attend one of the foodie events at Draeger’s newest store in Blackhawk, near Walnut Creek. Check out the schedule here, where you’ll see that Alice Waters, who the New York Times called “the mother of American cooking,” will be on hand November 3, 2007. It’s free!
Central Coast
There’s a new fun thing to do in the Santa Barbara area! Sustainable Vine Wine Tours offers guided tours of Santa Ynez Valley organic and biodynamic wineries in a biodiesel-powered van. The tour includes tastings, an organic picnic lunch and door-to-door pick-up/drop-off.
Central Valley
While not a foodie event, per se, there will be plenty of food and drink AND some really good music at the 9th annual Central Valley Blues Festival held over the Columbus Day weekend, October 6 and 7, at Merced, CA’s beautiful, historic Courthouse Park.
And, if you’re flying in to or out of the Sacramento airport, check out Vino Volo. Located in Terminal A next to the food court, you can sample wines from around the world as well as an extensive selection of California wines.
Sierras & Gold Country
The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival is September 13-16, 2007, and it is one of our favorite California current events. You can get all the details here.
Los Angeles
The 7th annual LemonFest will be held at Ventura’s Pacific View Mall on September 8 and 9, 2007, from 10am to 6pm. You can read all about it here.
Orange County
This year’s Celebrity Chef Dinner, benefiting Costa Mesa’s Share Our Selves, will be held at the Fairmont Newport Beach hotel. The dinner salutes 14 outstanding OC chefs who are committed to providing for the needy and features a five-course dinner with specialty wines from Chateau Ste Michelle, Louie Martini, Far Niente and Trefethen wineries. Some of the chefs cooking at this flavorful event include Bruno Egea (Fairmont Newport Beach), Chris Garnier (Roy’s), Alan Greeley (Golden Truffle), Rich Mead (Sage) and Jason Pena (Orange Hill Restaurant). Tickets cost $275 per person. Contact Kathleen Bruski at 949-515-5400 or visit the website here.
Inland Empire & Deserts
Come to Riley’s at Los Rio Rancho for the Oak Glen Apple Butter Festival, November 23-25, 2007 (Thanksgiving weekend). Oak Glen is in a beautiful valley nestled high above the desert floor, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is hosting a Blessing of the Wines & Harvest celebration on September 23, 2007, from 3-7:00pm, complete with wine tastings and BBQ’d delicacies. This fun-filled family event will include grape stomping contests, face painting and hot air balloon rides, as well as tractor-pulled hayrides through the vineyards and music by Roman Holiday. Best of all, cost is just $45 per person/$40 for wine club members/$15 for children under age 12. These prices are inclusive of tax and gratuity, and additional wines are available for purchase by the glass or by the bottle. This event will sell out, so reserve today by calling 951-587-9463 Ext. 7210.
San Diego
For the first time ever, closing day at Del Mar Racetrack will be free. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 5! Viejas is sponsoring the whole event, and there will be a “Party in the Paddock” with Super Diamond providing music, fabulous food and a no-host bar.
You may want to send an email to the visitor’s bureau where you plan to spend your California vacation, holiday or weekend getaway. Follow the link below to a list of the convention and visitor’s bureaus for some of the state’s major tourist destinations. This is a great way to learn what local California current events might be occurring during your visit.
Related posts:
California Current Events – Winter
California Current Events – Spring
California Culinary Events – Summer Food Festivals
California Current Events – Holiday Edition
Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.
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