40th Swiss Wine Festival, August 25 - 28, Vevay (Switzerland County)

It’s one of my favorite Indiana festivals, the Swiss Wine Festival. Celebrating America’s heritage of having the very first commercial winery in the whole US, the Swiss Wine Festival celebrates their heritage and contribution to America’s wine history.

This four-day event is held on the banks of the Ohio River, from Thursday to Sunday. With Midway rides, music, food, and best of all, a wine pavilion, there is something for everyone. Inside the pavilion, you can sample many of Indiana’s best wines, and even buy a few bottles of your favorite. Kids aren’t allowed inside the pavilion, but there’s plenty for them to do around the entire festival grounds.

My favorite event is the Celebrity Grape Stomp, which I managed to win last year, with nearly 18 cups of stomped juice. (It was a much better showing than the year before, when I placed 3rd from last.)

There is also a 5K walk/run, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, a stein tossing competition, polka dancers, edelweiss dancers, fireworks, and a parade.