Fine wine in the summertime

Paw Paw’s annual Wine and Harvest Festival

By Koty Neelis
Western Herald

If you’re coming back to Western Michigan University this fall, the Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival is a great way to start out the new school year. The annual festival is held in downtown Paw Paw and is held from Sept. 11 to 13.

The festival runs throughout the weekend and includes events and activities everyone can enjoy. There are several events for people of all ages, including many events for people under 21.

If you can’t participate in the wine tasting, you can definitely enjoy the free entertainment with the beautiful scenery of Maple Lake as the backdrop to your late summer fun.

Paw Paw and the surrounding areas have been referred to as the Napa Valley of the Midwest. On Friday, winery tours begin at 9:30 a.m. and are held during the morning and afternoon until 4:30 p.m. All wineries and tasting rooms are located on Kalamazoo Street approximately 1/2 mile north of I-94 and 1/2 mile south of downtown Paw Paw.

Wine tasting and tours are free all weekend.  Try any St. Julian wine, brandy or juice free of charge, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. In addition to the free tasting tent, a beer and wine tent offers beverages for purchase during the day until 5 p.m.

If you’re looking for something later in the day on Friday, you can participate in the entertainment of the Coca-Cola grape stomp held on the south bank of Maple Lake and enjoy fireworks at dusk.

In the mood for an early morning jog? The 20th Annual Grape Lake 5K run/walk  takes you on a run around the lake and is a part of Lake View’s commitment to maintaining and promoting the health of the people in the surrounding communities.

Help introduce the 2009 Michigan “Fruit Belt Series” which helps promote the growth of the fruit industries in Michigan as well as the daily fruit in your diet. 2009 Michigan “Fruit Belt Series”
Commemorative Coin Award will be given to qualifiers who finish and post a finish time in three of the Michigan “Fruit Belt Series” runs & walks.

Other Saturday events include the 14th Annual Grape Escape Classic Car show, an arts and crafts show, a book sale, an art exhibit and live entertainment lasting throughout the night.

On Sunday, enjoy a morning prelude of instrumental music on the lake before a big day of teeing off in the Hole in One Contest being held in the afternoon. Don’t miss the St. Julian Festival Parade starting at 1 p.m. or the Kalamazoo Big Band playing on Sunday only. Remember the grape stomping and winery tours last all weekend as well as the Carnival Midway.

For more information regarding specific events and times please visit their Web site at www.wineandharvestfestival.com.

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Apr 15 2009. Filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com