Cider and Wine festival set for Coca-Cola Park

The Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival an on-field event featuring hard cider and wine tastings from local and regional cideries and wineries makes its debut from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 24 at Coca-Cola Park.

Attendees each receive a collector's stemless glass to enjoy their cider and wine tastings and can also purchase a variety of food and crafts from local food trucks, vendors and artisans.

The festival which takes place during Pennsylvania Wine Month also includes live entertainment, panel discussions describing the process of making both cider and wine, the ability to purchase wine by the glass, bottle or case and other fun activities such as an apple launch competition.

Festival tickets are on sale and include a four-hour tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. VIP tickets are also available and include a noon entrance time and a five-hour tasting.

From now through Aug. 19, all tasting tickets are discounted with a special early-bird ticket offer. Tickets are also available for designated drivers who will receive complimentary soda or for those just wishing to visit the various food vendors and artisans.

Those interested are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as there will be an additional charge on all tickets purchased on the day of the festival.

To purchase discounted early-bird tickets or for more information, visit www.LVCiderandWine.com, call 610-841-PIGS (7447) or visit the Coca-Cola Park ticket office during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

The Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival will include 15-20 participating cideries, including local favorites Hardball Cider and Frecon's Cidery, each offering multiple cider selections.

The festival also includes wine tastings and sales by the glass, bottle and case from Lehigh Valley Wine Trail members.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region.

All nine of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

Participating wineries include:

• Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth

• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli

• Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville

• Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor

• Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas

• Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown

• Tolino Vineyards, Bangor

• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

You must be 21 or older to attend. Vendors looking to participate in the Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival should visit www.LVCiderandWine.com/contact.

Coca-Cola Park will offer a unique backdrop for this on-field festival as the ballpark was named Ballpark Digest's "Ballpark of the Year" during the IronPigs' debut season in 2008.

Parking is complimentary for the Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival.