Harvest Fair back to 3 days

<p>The 35th annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair is returning to a full three-day schedule, opening Friday with more than 2,000 schoolchildren exploring life on the farm and culminating Sunday with the annual grape stomp.</p><p>Visitors will get to taste award-winning wines and can also watch sheep dog trials, chef cooking demonstrations and the giant pumpkin contest where first-place comes with a $1,000 prize.</p><p>Last year, budget woes limited the Harvest Fair to Saturday and Sunday, except for a Friday wine tasting. But board president John Balletto said officials wanted to bring back Friday’s agriculture activities to help school children understand the difference that farms make in their lives.</p><p>“The ag industry in Sonoma County touches virtually everyone in one way or another,” said Balletto, owner of Ballletto Vineyards. “We wanted to bring Ag Day back for the kids.”</p><p>The fair attracted 13,643 visitors over two days last year, compared to 19,284 in 2008, when the fair was three days.</p><p>Over the years the event’s attendance has declined, much as it has for the larger Sonoma County Fair. But for many it remains an important place to connect the public with agriculture.</p><p>“The harvest fair was born out of that desire to highlight the winegrape harvest and the fall products that come after the Sonoma County Fair,” said Lex McCorvey, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau.</p><p>“I think tradition is important in a community,” McCorvey said. “And the Harvest Fair has a rich tradition. And while we have many things going on, it’s still a family-type event, an education event.”</p><p>A central part of the fair is the chance to taste the county’s award-winning wines, which were judged last week. Winners were announced at Saturday night’s gala.</p><p>The wines will be featured Friday with special flights of unlimited tastings arranged by varietals. The first, featuring five roving sommeliers to answer questions, will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. The second, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., is billed as a chance to sip and socialize with friends. Cost is $35 per flight or $60 for both flights, and includes fair admission.</p><p>On Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., the fair offers wine tasting organized by winery. Admission is $7, which doesn’t include the $6 fair entry, but does come with a tasting glass and two tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets are sold at four for $6.</p><p>The fair also will feature a microbrew beer tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $15 for a glass and five tasting tickets.</p><p>Besides the beverages, the fair will feature an art show and sale, craft sales, pumpkin carving, scarecrow building and free rides on wagons pulled by draft horses. As well, visitors can see farm exhibits on dairy cows and apples. They also can view llamas, Nigerian goats and pygmy goats, poultry and waterfowl.</p><p>Sunday will feature the sheepdog trials, giant pumpkin weigh-in, and beekeeping demonstrations.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com</p>