| | Published September 14th, 2011
| Moraga's Pear and Wine Festival
Something old and something new
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| By Sophie Braccini |  | |
September 24th will mark the 13th year of the celebration formerly known as the Pear Festival, named for the old pear orchards that once made Moraga an agricultural center. This year the event takes on a shiny new moniker reflecting the recent rise of a different agricultural and commercial venture-wine. The Pear and Wine Festival will still offer the same fun for the whole family, but this year will also include new activities and information related to the grape harvest.
"With the emergence of the wine growers in Lamorinda it made sense to transition to a Pear and Wine festival," said Pear Festival organizer John Haffner. "Moraga's three bonded wineries are supporting the event, which will continue to be a family-oriented celebration of the harvest season with fun for all ages."
Susan Captain, president of the Lamorinda Winegrower Association, agreed with Haffner. "After seeing us grow over the last three years and noticing what we have to offer, John (Haffner) agreed that Moraga is a pear and wine town," she said. Captain added that the growers are working on organizing grape crushing at the Commons during the Festival. "I hope we can make it happen this year, that would be a lot of fun," she adds.
The activities of the day, sponsored by the Town of Moraga, will start at the Moraga Commons Park at 10:00 a.m. and will continue until 4:00 p.m. Kids can bounce themselves silly in the inflatable jumpies that the Moraga Women's Society provides every year and the pear recipe contest will be judged on site. Artists and community groups will share the grounds of the Commons with food (including pear pies), snow cones and drink booths...and of course, wine tasting. The band Stone Soup will play from 1:30-4:00.
For more information contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (925) 888-7045 or visit www.moraga.ca.us.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA