Fall kicks off in Geneva from Sept. 11-13 with the 44th annual Festival of the Vine at James and South Fourth Streets in the city’s downtown.
Among the 15 wines featured are Lolea Red Sangria, Seaglass Pinot Noir and Vall Llach Priorat from Spain, according to the Geneva Chamber of Commerce website.
Among the six beers and seltzers are Penrose Light German Style Helles beer, Goofy Boots Hazy IPA and Apple Cider Donut Seltz-Up made with apples, cinnamon and vanilla.
Penrose Brewing will also offer a white grape sangria slush-up, which is frozen hard seltzer with real white grape, as well as the company’s Seltz-Ups in frozen slushy form.
Local businesses will also feature wine tastings, such as the Little Traveler, 404 S. Third St.; Up North Wine, 9 N. Second St.; Geneva Wine Cellar & Tasting Room, 227 S. Third St.; and SavWay Fine Wines & Spirits, 515 W. State St.
A dozen restaurants will be featured at the Flavor Fare Tent, each selling three samples of various dishes and desserts.
Among them for the first time will be Mosaic Kitchen and Cocktails, 507 S. Third St., with hummus and fresh pita, felafel with lemon tahina and mini lamb gyros.
“We missed it last year,” co-owner Charlie Smith said of participating in the Flavor Fare. “We opened just afterwards. The timing didn’t work out. But we love to be part of the community. Myself and my other two partners have been working at other places in the community for years – we just want to be part of it and get our name out there.”
For Sweet Sensations, in the Geneva Antique Market at 227 S. Third St., Suite 109, it’s the sixth or seventh time in the Flavor Fare, said owner Zach Norbut.
They have so much fun, they’ve lost count.
“It’s all of our staff’s favorite weekend by far,” Norbut said. “Everyone comes together and has a good time.”
Sweet Sensations will offer ready-to-eat cookie dough or ice cream, combos and a jumbo baked cookie/brownie.
“That is what we are known for – ready-to-eat cookie dough and ice cream,” Norbut said.
Others at the Flavor Fare tent will be Chianti’s Carryout & Catering with its famous garlic crab pasta; Cody’s Belly Bites with a mashed potato bar; Geneva Ale House will feature a smash burger and pulled pork sliders; Inglenook Pantry will return with its apple cobbler and maple ice cream.
Also, Franklin’s will have Chicago-style hotdogs; Kernel’s Gourmet Popcorn with popcorn and candy; Chicken Salad Chick of Batavia will offer its varieties of chicken salad; Stockholm’s will have grilled artichokes, pulled pork and Dijon salmon; Tacatz Tacos will have chicken or steak fajita or quesadilla wraps and tacos; Paizao Gaucha Brazilan Steakhouse will offer parmesan grilled chicken with fried polenta.
The Flavor Fare and wine tents will be open from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Guests buy tickets for the drinks and the food samples.
Ticket booths are open from noon to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11; from noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12; and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13.
Tickets are $2 apiece and sold in increments of $20 and guests must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol. Ticket sales end a half hour before closing.
The full beverage and food menu and ticket prices are available online at genevachamber.com.
The arts and crafts show will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 12-13 on South Third and Campbell streets.
Other attractions include live music, merchant booths, children’s activities and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Penrose Brewing Company is an event sponsor.
“We’re excited to be at Festival of the Vine again this year and in front of the Geneva community once again,” Penrose owner Anthony Sperando said. “We’ll have plenty of cold beer and Seltz-Ups and a white grape sangria slush-up as well.”
The city of Geneva is also supporting the event with a grant, according to a news release.