Festival goers compete in grape stomping competition at Oliver's Wine Capital Weekend

Groups of grape and wine enthusiasts stomped it out at Oliver's Festival of the Grape over the three-day Wine Capital Weekend.

On Sunday, the festival was in full-swing at Oliver Community Park, featuring groups of competitors looking to take the title of grape stomping champions.

"It's the 25th anniversary of the Festival of the Grape and we are so excited for this year." said Danielle Hutton, chair of Wine Capital Weekend.

Wine Capital Weekend kicked off with a performance by Aaron Pritchett on Friday. Saturday saw the Beer Olympics competition. The annual festival celebrates the fall harvest and community spirit.

Event goers enjoyed roughly 70 local beverage and food vendors, team challenges, family activities, artisan merchant marketplace, a kids zone, and art sale.

"It's family friendly. We've got local food trucks. We've got local merchants selling their wares. We even have a barber this year so you can come and get your hair cut," Hutton said.

Organizers said the turnout was bigger than last year. As a first this year, a youth category was added to the grape stomp competition.

"It's so much fun. All of the teams get all dressed up, they go up there, they stomp the grapes, and whoever gets the most juice at the end wins the whole thing," Hutton said.

The weekend featured many organizations, including the Oliver Fire Department, which kept busy hosing off grape stomp competitors following each round.

Photo: Sarah Crookall

Festival of the Grape 2024 held its first youth grape stomp competition.