Mt. Helix Park Food & Wine Festival To Return Aug. 19 Atop Mount Helix

LA MESA, CA — Party with a purpose — and amazing views — atop Mount Helix during the Mt. Helix Park Food and Wine Festival.

This year's Wild Wild West-themed festival, scheduled Aug. 19, will feature sampling booths from local restaurants, wineries, breweries and dessert shops. Local country band Whiskey Ridge will take the main stage, while country-rock band The Tradesmen will take the second stage. The 21-and-over event will also include line dance lessons with Boot Scootin' and a silent auction.

"The Food and Wine Festival is an amazing event filled with sampling from local restaurants, beverage companies, live bands, dancing and a silent auction," said Mary Kirk, event and development coordinator of Mt. Helix Park Foundation.

The 16th annual event will benefit Mt. Helix Park, which has been a staple in San Diego since it was built in 1925. Mt. Helix Park Foundation was formed in 1999 to maintain and preserve the historical park, outdoor amphitheater and cross memorial on top of Mt. Helix.

The festival serves as Mt. Helix Park Foundation's annual fundraiser.

Money raised at the event will help the foundation preserve and enhance the nearly 100-year-old park. Recently, the foundation had to reconstruct the maintaining wall on the road to the cross, Kirk told Patch.

"This exciting event brings the community together for a night of fun that directly benefits the Mt. Helix Park Foundation so that we can continue to stay open year round free to the public," she told Patch.

Last year, more than 500 people attended the festival. Organizers expect more than 700 attendees this year.

General admission tickets cost $85 for members and $95 for non-members. VIP box seating is $140 for members and $150 non-members. VIP table seating is $250.

The event starts at 5 p.m. for VIP ticket-holders and 6 p.m. for attendees with general admission.

General admission attendees are shuttled from Grossmont High School to the park. VIP ticket-holders are shuttled from the parking lot at the San Miguel Fire Station to the top of Mt. Helix.

Visit mthelixpark.org for more information and to purchase tickets.