Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival Rolls into Town

As the late September temperatures rise, anticipation starts to build for the . 

The festival, which celebrates 'Crush,' the start of the winemaking season, celebrates its 114th year this weekend. (Now, that's longevity!)

Run entirely by a group of volunteers, the festival benefits a rotating selection of area nonprofits: this year the lucky recipients are the Native Sons of the Golden West Sonoma Parlor #111 and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation Garden Project. Grand Marshalls this year are the Larson Family of Larson Family Winery.  

Though the full schedule of the weekend is online, here's our can't-miss redux. 

Tickets ($85/$114) are still available for the Opening Night Gala, which kicks off with food festivities and an amateur winemaking competition at the Sonoma Barracks and 6pm on Friday, Sept. 23.

Hold off on your hangovers, the "Blessing of the Grapes" starts Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10am sharp back at the Mission. Bring the kids for a history lesson, a reenactment of the Bear Flag Revolution starts just after, at 11am.

Or, if you're more the type to pick fun over history, cool off in a annual Firefighter Water Fight, just in front of the Barracks at 11am. Last year's champions, the Glen Ellen Fire Department, will defend their title with some trusty moves from the water-battle's signature beer-keg-cum-fire-hose contraption.

If you're not wet enough from the water fight, cover the rest of your body in sticky, heated purple pulp by participating in the Grape Stomp competition. But, gather up your _Lucy & Ethel_ and form a team quickly, space is limited. (Sign up online.)

Sunday starts off with fitness for all: The Vintage 5K Run-Walk starts at at 8am, with a gorgeous route winding its way around some of Sonoma's prettiest vineyards. The kids get their own fun with the Tiny Tracks Race, starting at 9:30am.

You've got until the end of today to register a float in the Vintage Festival Parade up! Too shy? The parade starts at 11am, with a dozens of floats and parade acts.