Wine aficionados or casual festival goers can enjoy the Finger Lakes Wine Festival Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend at Watkins Glen International.
Dawn Burlew, president of Watkins Glen International, said the festival, which started in 1997, has been voted the best wine festival by reade rs of USA TODAY and is a fan favorite of New York state wineries. The event will feature live music, entertainment and much more.
This year's Finger Lakes Wine Festival event is being held 51 years after more than 600,000 people filled the track for Summer Jam, a rock festival, held the last weekend of July 1973. Music remains a key part of the festival's entertainment.
First, though, travel a little further back in time with a toga party Friday night capped off by fireworks.
“The wine festival opens at the track Friday evening with our Launch of the Lake, a toga party,” Burlew said. “On Saturday and Sunday, we have wine tastings, distillery tastings, lots of craft vendors, food and much more, and of course music throughout the day.”
Tickets to the event, which are sold at various levels, can be purchased at flwinefest.com/buy-tickets
From 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Steeln’ Peaches, an Allman Brothers tribute band, will play at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival event to headline the weekend's musical offerings. The Allman Brothers were one the three notable bands, along with the Grateful Dead and the Band, that played at Summer Jam.
“If you look Steeln’ Peaches up on the internet, their postings and everything is that they are a Summer Jam band,” Burlew said. “It’s really cool.”
Admission to the Steeln’ Peaches concert is included with a wine ticket, or fans can purchase a concert ticket for $20 in advance and $25 at the concert, Burlew said.
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The climate-controlled event includes 90-plus wineries, diverse food, and a lot of live music.
For race car fans, pace car rides will be available Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Finger Lakes Wine Festival kicks off this weekend with toga party, fireworks. What to know
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