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Date: 8/31/2022
HARDWICK – To close out summer and welcome the new season, Hardwick Vineyard & Winery is hosting its Fall Craft & Food Festival on Sept. 3.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., attendees can expect a wide variety of craft vendors, local food products, food trucks, local wines, live music and more.
According to Kaitlin Young, tasting room manager, this is the second year of hosting the Fall Craft & Food Festival. She shared that Gina Palazzo from “Clay Bae by Gina” was responsible for coming up with this idea. After hosting a regular craft fair, the two decided to host another one in the fall.
“She [Palazzo] helps me out with [the festival] and vice versa,” said Young. “She is fantastic to work with.”
On the day of the event, Palazzo will be one of several craft vendors, selling her handmade earrings. Additional vendors include a local candle maker, crafters selling soap, T-shirts, plants, pottery, koozies and paintings, to name a few.
At press time, the vendors were full. Interested vendors for next year’s festival are asked to contact Young at kaitlin@hardwickwinery.com to secure a spot.
All the food trucks at the event are local, including Batch Ice Cream, Happy Valley Pizza, Off the Hook, Caravan Kitchen, The Deviled Egg, Wickedly Wild Waffle Company and more.
For drinks, Young said no outside alcohol is allowed nor will be served, aside from Hardwick Winery. She noted that they now have 17 “award-winning wines,” along with seasonal slushies and sangrias. The winery has several new releases including reservoir rosé, Greenwich apple wine and an apple pie dessert wine that is “perfect for fall,” added Young.
On the entertainment front, two different bands will take the stage. Rosie Porter & the Neon Moons will perform from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by Larry Louis from 4 to 7 p.m.
Although the event goes until 4 p.m., the winery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Fall Craft & Food Festival will benefit the Ware Food Pantry – The Jubilee Cupboard. Young explained that all the vendor fees go toward this organization. “We wanted to give back to a very local organization,” she shared. “We [donated] to the food pantry last fall. They do a lot for Ware, Hardwick” and others. Young added that the winery donates to the Ware Food Pantry after the event as well.
There is no cost to attend the event. “It’s free and fun for all ages,” said Young. No pre-registration is required.
The festival is sponsored by Monson Savings Bank.
Hardwick Winery is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Young said they are calling 2022, “cheers to 25 years - giving back to the community all year long.”
She noted that Hardwick Winery is family and dog friendly.
The winery is located at 3305 Greenwich Rd.
For additional information on the winery, visit https://www.hardwickwinery.com/.