Old-fashioned fun at Escondido Grape Day Festival!
Enjoy this fun collection of photographs taken during yesterday’s big Grape Day Festival in Escondido!
The family-friendly event, which is held in downtown’s grassy Grape Day Park, celebrates Escondido history and this North County city’s reputation for grape growing. The festival originated way back in 1908 and for the first half of the 20th century it rivaled Pasadena’s Festival of Roses in popularity.
Following the COVID pandemic of a few years ago, the Grape Day Festival is now back in full swing, with a large crowd enjoying grape stomping, historical displays and lots of old-fashioned entertainment!
I wandered about taking it all in. One could listen to jazz, bluegrass and mariachi music, explore exhibits along the park’s History Center, check out old vehicles and farm machinery, observe a milking demonstration, and meet lots of cool people who are involved throughout the community! Plenty of tasty food and games for kids and pony rides, too!
If you love nostalgia and a generous slice of Americana, this festival is for you!
Anybody could stomp some grapes provided by the Bernardo Winery.Yummy food by the Wine and Beer Tasting Garden!I learned there is an Old Escondido Historic District. It is the only residential Historic District in North San Diego County. Visit their website here.Several antique vehicles on display.A very cool 1949 Ford woodie.Kids learn how to dust for fingerprints behind a Crime Scene Investigation vehicle.Smiles at the Vietnam Veterans of America booth.Kids learn about native snakes at the San Dieguito River Park booth.The Escondido Public Library features a Pioneer Room, where anyone can search a local history archive for old documents, photographs and more. Go to their website here.Brightly smiling Escondido royalty pose for a photo.The San Diego Archaeological Center was on hand for the festival. I still haven’t visited their museum in nearby San Pasqual Valley. Check out their website here.The Wa$xayam Pomki Museum of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians had cultural displays at their booth. They are one of the Grape Day Festival sponsors. Their website is here.Lots of demonstrations could be viewed along the Escondido History Center’s Heritage Walk.A family learning about blacksmithing at the Tom Bandy Blacksmith Shop.Pre-Columbian methods for preparing corn.Antique machines used to grind corn.I placed a dried corn cob in here and turned the crank!Grape Day banners on the fence in front of the History Center’s Victorian House.Hollandia dairy, based in San Diego’s North County, brought two cows and a goat for milking demonstrations.Beautiful color at a wonderful community festival.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
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