PHOTOS: Ready, Set, Wine!

Here's information provided by Livermore Downtown, Inc.

The 2012, Livermore Wine Country Festival, the East Bay's premiere festival, will be held on Saturday and Sunday in the Nationally Acclaimed Downtown Livermore, 2009 Winner of the Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust Main Street Center.

Dates and Times: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Attendance: 120,000+ over the two days

Area size: 15 City Blocks; First Street from Maple to O Streets, Second Street from K to N Streets. All cross streets in between.

Four Locations for Beer and Wine Tasting:

• Cluster 1 — Livermore Valley Plaza
• Cluster 2 — Livermore Avenue between First St. and Railroad Avenue
• Cluster 3 — First and L Street
• Cluster 4 — First and O Street

20+ Livermore Valley Wineries: Including but not limited to; , , , , , , , Darcie Kent Vineyards, Cupcake Vineyards, Save Me, San Francisco and Flip Flop Wines.

20+ Local Craft Brews; Major Sponsoring Brewery — Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

Arts and Crafts Vendors — Over 250 artisans and crafters, both local and national.

Festival Food Vendors — Traditional Festival Fare will be available throughout the festival with a food court on M Street.

New This Year...

Gourmet Food Truck Fairway — L Street, between First and Second Street will be dedicated to Gourmet Food Trucks from around the Bay Area

J Street Jam — J Street Merchants will be hosting a party within the party called the "J Street Jam". The event will be pirate themed with the Pirates of Emerson, Pirate Ship docking on the street for the weekend to be used as an entertainment stage, sponsored by . Entertainment sponsored by .

Kickin' It On K — K Street Merchants will be hosting a party within the party called "Kickin' On K". There will be live music sponsored by and the first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest sponsored by . More information from the event's Facebook page here:

PANAMA RED/SPANKY'S DOGHOUSE/ AND ABC MUSIC are hosting an event during the Wine Country Festival May 5th and 6th!

HOT DOG EATING CONTEST ($200 cash prize/Sat May 5th)
- sign up now at Spanky's Doghouse
 
GUITAR FOR RAFFLE! (proceeds will be donated to charity)
- check it out at ABC Music

Add'l Raffle Contributers:
- Panama Red Coffee
- Blowout Bar Salon
- Mr. Pickles
- The Alehouse
- Bruno's Italian Cuisine
- Demitri's Taverna

LIVE BANDS ON STAGE
- Troubador!
- The PlayThings Band
- Seth Lael & the Chiltonaters ft. Mike Chilton
- Micheal Mullen
- Blue Gold Funk
- Off the Record
- Chris Ansuini
- Munkijunc
- Marinon Brothers
- GHS Jazz Combo
- Steve Guthrie
- The Sousaphone Boxers
- Esther Moser
- ABC Music Kids Choir

Other Activities:
- Local art presented by the Bothwell Center
- ChrisyHoops Dancers
- Face Painters
- Bubble station
- Free nail painting

Three Festival Stages — 21 bands playing over the weekend. We have gathered an eclectic collection of Jazz, Blues, Country, Classic Rock, Top 40, Middle Eastern, Salsa, Indie Rock and much more! Stage Locations — First and McLeod Street, Livermore and Railroad Avenue, First and N Street.

Downtown Livermore offers a wide array of specialty boutique shopping options. Our locally owned businesses will be offering special giveaways, deals and unique experiences to showcase their amazing locations that are ready to meet your needs every day in downtown Livermore.

Downtown Livermore has a real passion for outdoor dining. Our streets and sidewalks are lined with outdoor dining offering culinary excellence from our restaurants that are globally inspired and locally enhanced. If you choose to get in out of the sun, our dining rooms range from casual fun to graceful elegance.

Early Bird, Discounted Wine and Beer Tasting Packages

$5 discount

Beer Tasting Package: $25

Wine Tasting Package: $35

www.livermoredowntown.com/winecountryfestival

Weekend of Wine and Beer Tasting Packages

Beer Tasting Package: $30

Wine Tasting Package: $40

Sales booths located at all four tasting clusters.

City of Livermore ordinances require specific rule inclusion in our Special Event Permit. No Dogs, no animals, no bicycles and no skateboards allowed within the event.