Festival Events 2025

We brought back your favorite events and added some exciting changes for 2025!

JUMP TO:

Friday August 29, 2025

Popcorn and Wine Pairing

Back by popular demand!

Yes folks, we are bringing back this popular classic, hosted by longtime friend of the Festival, (to say nothing of Utah’s most entertaining wine instructor), Jim Santangelo, owner of the Wine Academy of Utah. Jim will walk you through this fun and frolicking wine pairing, using freshly made popcorn flavors made just for this event by our friends at Digby’s Market.

Be prepared to be absolutely amazed by what wine and popcorn can do together.

Utah’s AVA & AVA’s of The World – American Viticulture Area Educational Class

Join European Master of Wine Sheral Schowe, owner of the Wasatch Academy of Wine as she creates another master level class on the world of wines and how Utah wineries are integrating themselves into this exciting world. We are still working with Sheral to create new course material that will be fun, educational and something we know you’re going to enjoy while you try different Utah wines. Stay tuned to this page for further updates as we get the curriculum finalized.

Whiskey and Cigar Social (B.Y.O.C. – Bring Your Own Cigar)

Join I/G Winery’s mixologist Michelle Jones for a shot of bourbon, scotch or rye whiskey, or ask the team to make you the ultimate cocktail, to put the perfect nightcap at the end of the first night of the festival. No ticket required, just be sure you find yourself behind I/G Winery around 9pm in order to join the fun.

Saturday August 30, 2025

Ciders, Meads, and Non-Traditional Wines of Utah

Explore a world of wine beyond the grapes. Join Utah fruit wine and mead makers Jay and Lori Yahne, of The Hive Winery & Spirits Company, for an in depth look at the incredible versatility and complexity of meads, hard ciders and wines made from some of your favorite fruits.

Come learn about the differences in meads (wine made from honey) and hard ciders and how different/or similar wines made from currants, peaches or even pears are from their grape wine cousins. Forget what you think you know about those cheap, sweet versions you may have tried in the past; instead come prepared to try these types of wines when they are created by professional winemakers.

You Be The Judge (The Wine Judge)

New event this year. We brought back the wine competition in which professional judges will taste and rate Utah wines, but this time we have added a new twist. You’ll sit with a professional judge, learn how they critique a wine, and then provide your own rating on each wine. You’ll get your own score sheet, and rate the various wines in the competition right along with the pros.

When all the wines are scored, the wineries will receive gold, sliver and bronze medals from the professionals but they will also receive the People’s Choice awards based on how their wines were scored among those that attended this event. If you have ever wanted to be a wine judge and have a say in how wines are rated, this is your chance!

Harvest Twilight Wine Tastings

Labor day weekend is the traditional kick off of harvest of our earliest ripening fruits. Over the years we have had a lot of requests from Festival attendees asking if they could see how the wineries are conducting their respective harvests. As a result we are hoping to move the traditional “Flights and Bites” event out to the wineries and let you choose which winery you would like to visit. Once there, you will enjoy a personalized tasting with the winemakers and their teams. Enjoy bites from Beehive Cheese Company and Digby’s Market as you visit the winery of your choice and enjoy a customized wine tasting while learning about the wine and discussing the days harvest.

We are still working out the details on this event but check back here and we will post new information as it is finalized.

Terroir to Table Dinner

Join us for a unique dining experience under the open sky at Cedar’s famous Red Acre Farm CSA. The dinner will also include wine from local Utah wineries paired to perfection with the farm fresh cuisine. There will be appetizers and hard ciders before we gather for a farm tour. Then, a sit-down dinner will be served family-style (or farm-style). Discussion and questions from the guests will be encouraged. Farmer and chef Sara Patterson will create the menu with ingredients dictated by what they have freshly harvested there at Red Acre Farm.

Epicureans On The Edge – It’s Back Baby!!

Back by popular demand, Epicureans on the Edge is a culinary experience intended to be “on the edge” both locationally and gastronomically. It is for those that would like something a bit more on the “wild” side. Come enjoy local cuisine that has everything from acorn tamales and corn zucchini bisque to smoked trout, quail and lamb, all with a culinary nod to the stylings of Utah’s native peoples elevated by Chef Heidi Orr’s gourmet interpretations.

Put the date on your calendar and check back here for more information about the location as we get the final details worked out.

Twilight Tasting, Terroir to Table & Epicureans Nightcaps

After the formal events of the evening are complete, come find your way back to I/G Winery for a custom curated cocktail that puts the perfect finish on a spectacular day.

We have designed a custom cocktail that is intended to complement the Terroir to Table and the Epicureans on the Edge dinners. Come join us for the ultimate nightcap.

Sunday August 31, 2025

Viticulture and Vino

Southern Utah’s Mindira Vineyard, is located on the banks of the Virgin River, in Rockville, just outside Zion National Park. It is a young vineyard, but the location is second-to-none. We have held the event here the last two years and it always proves to be a festival favorite. Once again, Digby’s Market will be bringing another fantastic picnic feast for all to enjoy and I/G Winery will bringing their award winning wines. Digby’s Executive Chef, Heidi Orr has created three salsa’s intended to pair with some wines to show you how salsa and wine really can be a lot of fun together. Winemaker’s Caitie and Austin Sorrels will walk you through a taste experience showing how I/G wines can make significant differences on the final tastes of your favors of Latin American foods.

This one sells out quickly and has more repeat attendees that any other festival event. Proof that this is one picnic you do not want to miss.

The Grand Dinner

The meal to end all meals is everything you need to know about the Grand Dinner. It is our final dinner of the weekend and we want to make sure you have enough memories to last you until next year.

Last year we held this dinner on the beautiful stretch of shaded and flower-festooned walkway between the Eccles and Randall Theater’s on the beautiful Shakespeare Theater grounds. We are still working out the particulars of this years location and will be posting more information here as we get it figured out.

Executive Chef Kevin Jerrold-Jones has put together another amazing menu of flavor combinations and experiences that you’re going to love. As you arrive, we will get you started with a glass of dry mead paired with the perfect appetizer. Once everyone is there, our hosts will take you to your seats where you will begin the rest of this fun and frolicking culinary journey.

Sit down, relax, chat with old friends, and make some new ones, as you enjoy the food of one of Southern Utah’s great chefs, perfectly paired with several outstanding Utah wines.

The Grand Dinner Nightcap

This was a huge hit last years so I/G Winery has once again agreed to put together a special cocktail designed to compliment the Grand Dinner dessert and help you enjoy yet another perfect finish to final night of the Festival. This special drink will be available for this night only, so gather your friends and head over to I/G Winery’s tasting room to discuss your favorite parts of the weekend while sipping a little slice of heaven. No ticket required, just head over to I/G Winery’s tasting room.