The Romana Art and Wine Festival, now in its tenth year, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event returns to Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Road, for a one-day pre-COVID event. The Ramona Art and Wine Festival are now taking sponsorship, winery, artist, and vendor applications for the 2022 festival.
The festival will feature fine art, music, and the local wine business, as well as the work of local chefs reacting to the growing demand for premium dishes to complement the region’s award-winning wines.
Wineries will offer wine tastings, while local artists will exhibit and sell their work. The popular Painted Barrel Art Auction will be back, this time with deconstructed wine barrel art and furniture.
“The festival promotes Ramona as an art and wine community, which benefits both exhibitors and tourists,” said Elaine Lyttleton, president of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project.
The Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project and the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association collaborated on the festival. The event honors local artists as well as the Ramona Valley American Viticultural Area.
The festival allows wineries to display their products and give newcomers a sample of their wines. The 2022 venue allows for a greater number of wineries to participate this year. Because of COVID, the festival has limited the number of participating wineries in the last two years to six in 2020 and nine in 2021. The venues were dispersed around various wineries in order to keep consumers outside but not congregated in one location. This year, one winery will gain additional visibility by hosting the VIP Gala on Friday, Oct. 28, which will be attended by at least 80 individuals.
Artists can participate in the festival in a variety of ways, such as booth artists, wine barrel artists, and commemorative artists. Artists are urged to enter the memorial art contest by submitting an application. The winning artwork for the 10th annual festival will be featured on the program cover, publicized in a press release, and inducted into the festival’s “Hall of Fame.”
Attendees get the option to buy and sell crafts and specialty delicacies during the event. Items that are handcrafted and have something to do with wine are preferred. Shoppers will be on the lookout for one-of-a-kind items.