Jonathan Edwards Winery Celebrates 25 Years With Its Biggest Harvest Fest Yet

The festival runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., essentially turning the vineyard grounds into an outdoor fall fair for the day.

And this year’s Harvest Fest arrives at an appropriate moment.

Jonathan Edwards Winery opened to the public in 2001, making 2026 its 25th year in North Stonington. The winery’s story actually began a little earlier, when the Edwards family became interested in the emerging Northeastern wine industry and eventually looked west as well. A trip to Napa Valley in 1999 led to their first California harvest in 2000 and ultimately to an unusual model: a Connecticut winery producing wines connected to vineyards on both coasts.

Twenty-five years later, they’re throwing a party in the vineyard.

Three Bands Take the Stage

The music starts with The John Fries Trio, and Fries himself describes Harvest Fest as a show his band will open.

Fries is a singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music sits at the intersection of blues, soul and roots music. His stated influences range from Eric Clapton and the Black Crowes to John Prine, Amos Lee, D’Angelo, Martin Sexton and Chris Whitley, which gives a pretty good indication of the territory he occupies: guitar-driven music with blues underneath it but enough soul and songwriting to keep it from becoming a straight blues set.

Also playing is The Fake Experience, a familiar name on the southeastern Connecticut winery and club circuit. If you’ve spent much time following outdoor music around Mystic and Stonington, there’s a decent chance you’ve encountered them before.

The third act is Sugar, completing a lineup designed to keep live music running through the festival rather than treating the band as background entertainment.

Jonathan Edwards has confirmed all three bands, although it has not published individual 2026 set times beyond John Fries indicating that his trio opens the show.

Yes, You Can Stomp the Grapes

Harvest Fest also brings back the winery’s adult grape-stomping contest.

It’s exactly what it sounds like.

Grape stomping reaches back thousands of years as one of the earliest methods of crushing grapes for winemaking. Modern wineries have long since replaced feet with considerably more efficient equipment, but the old method has survived as one of harvest season’s more entertaining traditions.

At Jonathan Edwards, it’s become part of the festival.

The winery is also advertising hayrides, yard games and free children’s activities, giving families considerably more to do than sit on the lawn while the adults sample wine. An artisan market will bring local makers onto the grounds as well.

Food trucks are scheduled throughout the day. Jonathan Edwards has not yet published the names of the 2026 trucks, so that’s one detail worth watching as Oct. 4 gets closer.

And bring some extra cash. The winery specifically tells guests to bring pocket change for its “Truck Stop,” the festival’s food-truck area.

What Your $30 Actually Gets You

Advance admission is $30 per adult, increasing to $35 at the gate if the festival hasn’t sold out.

That includes admission, all three bands, festival activities, free parking, a keepsake Jonathan Edwards glass and one complimentary glass of wine.

That last part is worth emphasizing: this isn’t an unlimited wine-tasting ticket.

Additional wine can be purchased during the festival. The outdoor bar is cash only, while the winery’s tasting room accepts both cash and credit cards. There is no ATM on the property, so anyone planning to use the outdoor bar or buy from vendors should arrive accordingly.

The winery is also promoting Connecticut craft beer as part of the celebration, giving non-wine drinkers another option.

Guests younger than 21 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed parent, guardian or adult. They’ll receive a different-colored wristband identifying them as underage.

Bring a Chair and Make a Day of It

This is the kind of event where a little planning makes a difference.

Jonathan Edwards provides some tables and chairs, but seating is limited and available first come, first served. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, and pop-up tents are permitted in designated areas on the grounds.

Outside alcohol and beverages aren’t allowed. That includes coffee cups, cans and twist-top bottles. Coolers will be inspected at the entrance, while water will be sold at the bars and water-filling stations will be available.

Leave the dog home for this one, too. Although Jonathan Edwards ordinarily welcomes leashed dogs in portions of the property, the winery specifically prohibits dogs during Harvest Fest because of the size and activity level of the event.

The festival happens rain or shine, and tickets are nonrefundable.

Perhaps the best way to approach it is to treat Harvest Fest less like a quick winery visit and more like a day on the lawn: arrive when the gates open, find a place to settle in, hear three bands, wander through the artisan tents, grab lunch from a food truck, take the kids for a hayride and watch otherwise sensible adults remove their shoes and discover how much work it once took to turn grapes into wine.

Twenty-five years after Jonathan Edwards Winery opened its doors in North Stonington, that’s a pretty appropriate way to celebrate another harvest.

More information is available at the Event Website link below. To purchase tickets, click the Event Ticketing link below.

Details

Event: Jonathan Edwards Winery Harvest Fest & 25th Anniversary Celebration
Date: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Jonathan Edwards Winery
Address: 74 Chester Main Road, North Stonington, CT 06359
Advance Admission: $30 per adult
Gate Admission: $35 per adult, if not sold out
Under 21: Free with a ticketed adult, parent or guardian
Admission Includes: One complimentary glass of wine, keepsake glass, parking, three bands and festival activities
Bands: The John Fries Trio, The Fake Experience and Sugar
Activities: Adult grape-stomping contest, hayrides, yard games, artisan market and free children’s activities
Food: Food trucks will be on site; the 2026 truck lineup has not yet been published
Drinks: Wine and Connecticut craft beer available; additional wine may be purchased
Seating: Limited tables and chairs; guests may bring lawn chairs, blankets and pop-up tents for the grounds
Outside Beverages: Not permitted; coolers will be checked
Water: Available for purchase and at water-filling stations
Dogs: Not permitted during Harvest Fest
Weather: Rain or shine
Tickets: Nonrefundable
Parking: Free
ATM: None on site
Phone: 860-535-0202

Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.