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Canandaigua, N.Y. —
The second annual Finger Lakes Riesling Festival, presented by the Villas at Canandaigua, will take place this weekend, Aug. 14 to 15, along Lakeshore Drive and Kershaw Park in Canandaigua.
Festival organizers have been busy developing new and exciting attractions for this year’s event to draw festival-goers from all over the northeast. This year’s festival, in conjunction with the Canandaigua Rotary Pier Festival, promises to be bigger and better with an expected attendance of 40,000 people.
“We expect it to be another very successful event this year and are really looking forward to providing this to the Finger Lakes region,” said festival coordinator Anne Blythe.
“We think that it’s going to highlight not only the wonderful Riesling wines, but all things local — including farm markets, arts and crafts vendors and entertainment. We take pride in our whole region coming together to make this year’s Riesling Festival even better than the last.”
Twenty-five area wineries will step up to showcase their Rieslings and offer samplings. Just a few steps away, a dozen additional bands will take turns performing in the Entertainment Gazebo and in the Wine Garden. Headliners will include The Campbell Brothers and Blue Sky Mission Club.
Four notable additions will also help turn up the volume at this year’s festival.
The Wegmans New York State Craft Beer Tent will be open on Saturday, Aug. 14, where festival-goers will have the chance to sample beer from local breweries in the Wine Garden while enjoying live entertainment.
A Battle of The Bands Competition will feature nine local bands on Saturday, Aug. 14. A prize package valued at $1,000 will be awarded to the winning band from Mobile Music in Canandaigua.
In partnership with the Granger Homestead, horse-drawn carriage rides will be available up and down Lakeshore Drive, which will be closed to traffic during the festival.
A Classic Car Show is also scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 15, and is expected to showcase 100 classics. Entries will be judged by local expert Chuck Graham of Classics and Customs in Victor, and awards will be given for best in show. Pre-registration is required and the entry fee is $10.
These added features come on the heels of an exceptionally successful festival last year. According to festival co-founder Howie Jacobson, the 2009 Finger Lakes Riesling Festival attracted 25,000 people to Canandaigua and raised $35,255 for the Canandaigua Family YMCA.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better year in 2009 and that has given us the drive to really expand this year’s event,” said Jacobson. “This year’s festival is going to be action-packed, the highlight of the summer, with something fun for everyone. It’s a great time for families to get together and come out and really enjoy all that the Finger Lakes has to offer right here in Canandaigua.”
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Canandaigua YMCA. Sponsorship, vendor and volunteer opportunities are still available; contact Anne Blythe for more information.
The second annual Finger Lakes Riesling Festival, presented by the Villas at Canandaigua, will take place this weekend, Aug. 14 to 15, along Lakeshore Drive and Kershaw Park in Canandaigua.
Festival organizers have been busy developing new and exciting attractions for this year’s event to draw festival-goers from all over the northeast. This year’s festival, in conjunction with the Canandaigua Rotary Pier Festival, promises to be bigger and better with an expected attendance of 40,000 people.
“We expect it to be another very successful event this year and are really looking forward to providing this to the Finger Lakes region,” said festival coordinator Anne Blythe.
“We think that it’s going to highlight not only the wonderful Riesling wines, but all things local — including farm markets, arts and crafts vendors and entertainment. We take pride in our whole region coming together to make this year’s Riesling Festival even better than the last.”
Twenty-five area wineries will step up to showcase their Rieslings and offer samplings. Just a few steps away, a dozen additional bands will take turns performing in the Entertainment Gazebo and in the Wine Garden. Headliners will include The Campbell Brothers and Blue Sky Mission Club.
Four notable additions will also help turn up the volume at this year’s festival.
The Wegmans New York State Craft Beer Tent will be open on Saturday, Aug. 14, where festival-goers will have the chance to sample beer from local breweries in the Wine Garden while enjoying live entertainment.
A Battle of The Bands Competition will feature nine local bands on Saturday, Aug. 14. A prize package valued at $1,000 will be awarded to the winning band from Mobile Music in Canandaigua.
In partnership with the Granger Homestead, horse-drawn carriage rides will be available up and down Lakeshore Drive, which will be closed to traffic during the festival.
A Classic Car Show is also scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 15, and is expected to showcase 100 classics. Entries will be judged by local expert Chuck Graham of Classics and Customs in Victor, and awards will be given for best in show. Pre-registration is required and the entry fee is $10.
These added features come on the heels of an exceptionally successful festival last year. According to festival co-founder Howie Jacobson, the 2009 Finger Lakes Riesling Festival attracted 25,000 people to Canandaigua and raised $35,255 for the Canandaigua Family YMCA.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better year in 2009 and that has given us the drive to really expand this year’s event,” said Jacobson. “This year’s festival is going to be action-packed, the highlight of the summer, with something fun for everyone. It’s a great time for families to get together and come out and really enjoy all that the Finger Lakes has to offer right here in Canandaigua.”
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Canandaigua YMCA. Sponsorship, vendor and volunteer opportunities are still available; contact Anne Blythe for more information.
