Thousands expected at Summer Solstice Wine and Farm festival
Admission is $5 and $10 for wine tasting (including a glass). At the gate, admission is $10 and $15 respectively. Children 12 and under are free.
The site is at 1351 North Amherst Highway, just south of the intersection of U.S. 29 and Va. 151.
Thousands are expected for the new summer festival in Amherst County this month, for which organizers are trying to draw attendees from a broad swath between Lynchburg and Charlottesville.
The Amherst-Nelson Summer Solstice Wine and Farm Festival is June 20-21, which was planned to replace the now-defunct summer event at Nelson County’s Oak Ridge Estate and similar to the signature fall festival at Rebec Vineyards, the Garlic Festival.
The new festival will take place at the old livestock auction market near the crossroads of Virginia 151 and U.S. 29. The property, now owned by Dr. Bill Fitzhugh, has been converted to a vineyard with a multipurpose entertainment facility in the old market building. It is called Amherst Estate Vineyard.
Rebec owner and founder Richard Hanson –– who, besides organizing the Garlic Festival worked for nearly 20 years to stage the Sorghum Festival –– said Solstice organizers originally budgeted and planned for 3,000 attendees. In a pre-festival planning meeting, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control recommended they plan for 5,000 attendees, Hanson said.
Another barometer of attendance was from vendors –– about 50 will be on hand.
“It’s unusual that we get this many vendors, the first year,” Hanson said.
Hanson and the owners of most of Nelson County wineries, along with the tourism departments of the two counties and the Amherst Rotary Club, are co-sponsoring the festival.
The new festival leans distinctly toward alternative, small-scale farm specialties such as honey, mushrooms, herbs, garlic, goats, llamas, wool, local farmers market produce and seminars on sustainable earth-friendly agriculture.
It is envisioned to be a cultural and entertainment venue for the entire region from Charlottesville to Lynchburg. The former auction facility is 40,000 square feet.
The new festival will have more wineries than the former Nelson County Summer Festival, along with arts and crafts vendors, seminars, food, local entertainers and an expanded play area to accommodate young children and teenagers.
Five highlights:
- A local seminar tent with hourly demonstrations, displays, and talks about buying and using local produce and products.
- The largest variety of activity inflatables ever presented in Virginia by the festival’s Bounce Department.
- Live music, wine tasting, arts and crafts and dining under one big roof.
- Three local authors will display, sign and sell their books.
- Ancient summer solstice rituals.
Hanson always has sought local talent for festival stages. This festival will feature Just Wanna Play, with music from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and now, and Robin Rich and Friends, with traditional music from the British Isles and American folk music.
Wineries include Afton Mountain Vineyards, Cardinal Point, Democracy Vineyards, Hill Top Berry Farm, Mountain Cove, Rebec and Wintergreen Winery.
The price is less expensive than the Garlic Festival.
“We tailored our admission price to the economic conditions,” Hanson said.
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