FRUGAL FAMILY: Save on Oregon Ridge's Wine-Tasting Festival

Uncork the fun, at a discount, with Great Grapes! Wine, Arts and Food Festival on June 11 and 12 in Cockeysville.

Oregon Ridge Park is hosting the two-day wine festival, from noon to 6 p.m. both weekend days. The festival will include wine tastings from 20 Maryland wineries, live music, cooking demonstrations, and plenty of exhibitors’ booths with free samples and shopping.

The tickets, for both days, are $35.

But today, until midnight tonight, through Groupon, you can get the two-day pass, including unlimited wine tasting, for $20. That’s a 43 percent discount.

Your favorite local wines from Basignani, Boordy, Elk Run, Galloping Goose, St. Michael’s Winery, Sugarloaf Mountain and Terrapin Station will be available for you to sip in your own souvenir wine glass.

Kids under 12 are free. So pack up the little ones, let them play at Oregon Ridge’s fabulous playgrounds, and see if they’ll sample the organic local cheeses with you.

Exhibitors range from Cabot Cheese to Broadleaf Tobacco to Heidi Jo’s Jerky.  Free samples will abound. Todd’s Dirt Seasonings, anyone? Or maybe Wildtree Herbs sounds better?

Your family can jam to live music by the bluesy Kelly Bell Band, Junkyard Saints, Liquid A, and JunkFood.

Plus, in the Gourmet Live tent, you can watch cooking demonstrations by Italian chef Maria Liberati, and Jim Benson’s and “The B-More Chef” Tracey Mullaney Frew’s indulgent cooking demos.

Bring lawn chairs, bring blankets, bring sunscreen, and watch your blood alcohol level. The festival actually provides Designated Driver tickets for the friend who wants to come for the music and food, but won’t drink the wine—something to keep in mind.

Click here to get the deal. Click here to see more information on the festival.