Another Great Grape Region in Northern California…read more Lodi is known for producing it's Zinfandel Wines. Over the years wine consumption has been in the decline amongst the younger generations and also Zinfandel has been unpopular with younger wine drinkers. The Lodi Grape Festival is held at the Lodi Grape Pavilion grounds. It's centrally located off highway 99 on East Lockford St. The venue is a pretty nice setup. There's a nice size auditorium, outdoor amphitheater for live music, and festival grounds for the carnival and midway activities. The Grape Festival is similar to a county fair or mini state fair. The entrance fee and parking fees are very comparable to the state fair. The food vendors I was surprised are a lot higher than the state fair. One food vendor was selling bbq turkey legs for $30. But if you look around there's some more affordable options. The Grape Festival has some good entertainment performers. The night I went I got to see the original 80's new wave band " A Flock of Seagulls". The festival runs for approximately 4 days. There's also lots of great exhibits to see of San Joaquin County and other grape industry exhibits. Check out the festival sometime in the upcoming years!

First time attending the Lodi Fair. I'm used to the 2 in Oakland growing up. This was the same just…read moreupgraded! They had a lot more to offer from food vendors, regular misc vendors and activities for the kids. Plenty of parking (however pin your car and remember what lot you're in!) I didn't realize there were 2 entrances. We entered in the front, yet when we were leaving we walked out through the back and didn't recognize or notice until we got all the way out that our car was on the entirely opposite side. Luckily they allowed us to re-enter so we didn't have to walk around. It was definitely packed, parking can be paid with Apple Pay! Purchase tickets online a few days before the fair for the best deals! I can't wait for next year to come back and enjoy some sun, rides, and carnival foods.

I tried registering for tickets prior to the event. The web site claims tickets will be on sale…read moreonline until Friday, 5/18 @11:59. I tried to get tickets Friday evening at around 8:45 and they weren't available (see screenshots for evidence). We may still go I and hopefully the lines and our experience will be better than my negative experience so far. UPDATE: I still give one star for my above review of online registration. However, we went and there was no line to get tickets, and we had a great time. Great value as you get to try lots of wine for a relatively low price (compared to a day of wine tasting in Napa/Sonoma. Good people watching, spectacular location, safe and very well laid out. My only complaint was the long lines for food.

First time at Zinfest 2k16 and not sure based on other reviews I was a little nervous. So as soon…read moreas we walked up I was a little nervous to see literally 100's of people waiting out front. A little confusing based on the fact they make you buy your tickets ahead of time...this was all due to the fact that they have people that need to put wrist bands on you? So this is what took away the star for me. The logistics need some serious help! Now you couldn't pick a better spot in Lodi than Lodi lake park for this festival. They have everything spread out really well on both sides of the lake so things aren't so super crowded. I thought they had tons of selection of all the great wineries from the Lodi area and even though based on the some the other reviews I would much rather hang with these locals and who this attracts....besides based on how many grapes Lodi is trucking to Napa might as well stay here anyway. Lol! We had a great chance to sample all of our favorites plus some new choices. They also give you the opportunity to have wine by the glass as well. One super nice perk was the free bottles water and bread. I personally thought they could have had more food options knowing how many awesome food trucks are in the area but did enjoy sampling some of what they had. Also for the size of the venue could have had a few more vendors to look at while wine tasting. Either way had a great time and would for sure come back again.

Every year tens of thousands of sandhill cranes descend on the small Central Valley town of Lodi,…read moreCalifornia. From September through March the cranes make themselves right at home in the grasslands and marshes, feeding on grains (mostly corn), fish, rodents, loafing around and flying to their evening roost. This fly-in is what you have to experience. Watching a flock of graceful gargalers descend into a sunset-lit field at dusk is utterly amazing. General admission is free and (most) all the events that take place at Hutchins Street Square, including the kick-off Reception, is free. Costs for the numerous nature tours vary, depending on the tour. We did the 'Bald Eagle by Boat' tour early Saturday morning. East Bay Mud Biologists took us to Pardee Reservoir (which is closed for the season) and out on a boat to spot bald eagles, golden eagles, loons, grebes, and red-tailed hawks. At dusk, we went to the Sandhill Crane Preserve, lead by Department of Fish and Game Docents, to watch thousands of cranes converge on the marshland to roost for the night. The sunset behind Mt Diablo mixed with the vocalizations, feeding, and dancing of the cranes will be with me the rest of my life! Sunday morning we got up early and went birding on the Delta. Our boat left Tower Park Marina and we cruised through the waterways for a couple hours watching for cranes, swans, geese, and ducks. We spotted a few Blue Herons and a horned owl asleep in a big pine tree. The sky above us darkened at times from the thousands of birds flying above. Totally AWESOME! Whether you're a beginning birder or advanced, this festival has something for anyone interested in birds, specifically sandhill cranes. Tours are suitable for most ages and range from canoeing to hiking, sitting in a boat, to learning bird photography. There is also a great Art Show, BBQ and Wine Tasting, and a chance to purchase birding souvenirs. I'm already ready for next year already!!!

Have been attending this event for over 5 yrs. They originally started out with speakers either…read morestudying/ photographing /and or working in the species field. They also had guided tours to the various wetlands. And there's the rescued bird discussion out on the patio. (of course i had to collect my t-shirt & whatever other goodies they have for purchase) . the evening fly in is a must see, but get there early if driving own vehicle (parking at site is a bit limited during prime time) .

A-Ok. This is the 2nd annual grape city con/festival...which isn't so much a grape festival as it…read moreis a small regional comic con. $5.75 online tickets...though there was an issue with their system, so we ended up having to pay $7 at the door. They had one small vendor hall and a panel hall along with an outdoor stage area. The food options were pretty limited. I'm fact, I hardly saw any. The biggest deal of this event was the Sacramento casting panel for an upcoming marvel movie, which featured prizes and a chance to be in the film. We spent maybe an hour and a half there before leaving. Imo, not really worth the $7 a ticket and the 35 mile drive. The con/festival was only open 10am-4pm....which was kind of a bummer. I think it's worth checking out if you're local with nothing better to do. But not worth the travel.

The Golden State Pinball Festival is the ultimate gaming time in the heart of Lodi, California…read more Collectors and local enthusiasts donate their pinball machines to be played on a "free play" mode for hundreds of eager players. A flat rate at the door gets you all day play or but a 3-day pass for the ultimate weekend of pinball. There is a silent auction and a raffle and a chance to win a pinball machine. This is a wonderful event that supports the World of Wonders (WOW) Science Museum in downtown Lodi.

This was my first year attending and I can't wait for next year! I was honestly blown away with the…read moreamount of pinball machines they had. With admission, you have free play on all machines that span the decades of pinball history. It was great fun and a great vibe. If you're hungry they have a food truck and beverages can be purchased for consumption outside of the pinball areas. Well worth the money AND all proceeds go charity. Volunteer run, please come and support!

We came for the first time on NYE night & could tell that some homes were not as decked out/lit up…read moreanymore & the experience was not full impact. However, there were hardly any cars, so we could do a slow, easy drive. It was still magical with lots of lights throughout this neighborhood. The standout feature was that the streets were lined with continuous strings of white lights that swagged down the participating areas, creating lit paths to follow. It was impressive! There were definitely some houses that went above, while others were more simple, but all delightful to see. Here & there, Christmas trees were in the middle of a court or roundabout. We aren't familiar with the neighborhood & lost track of how we meandered through, so next year we'll try to figure out a good route. We'll definitely plan to come back earlier during the next holiday season to enjoy the full experience.

Rockmont Lights in Natomas is all they say it is and more!…read more My friend, daughter and I wanted to check out Christmas lights last night and decided to check out Rockmont Lights instead of fighting the Fab 40's crowd. It was a first time for all of us and we weren't sure what to expect. We arrived around 7:30pm and it was already pretty busy, but we found some parking on a nearby street. Most of the streets surrounding Java Court were festively decked out and flooded with people - we made our way over to Java Court and I was so surprised to see a massive Christmas tree in the center of the court. There was Santa and The Grinch happily taking photos with families and a couple of fire pits that people were warming up by! They were handing out candy canes to passing cars and I believe they were even selling hot cocoa in front of a few houses! You can drive around the area, but I highly recommend walking it to fully experience the magic that Rockmont Lights has to offer! Make sure you bundle up though! Rockmont Lights definitely gives Dovewood Court and even some streets in the Fab 40's a run for its money! We will be visiting every year now and making it a new tradition!

We bought our tickets at a discount through a winery we're a member of, so glad we did! Great day…read moreby the lake tasting wine and eating good food! Well worth the $45!!!

Wine, food, and good friends. A great event! This is our 5th time going to ZinFest. Our group gets…read morebigger everytime. We always make arrangements ahead of time to have a sober designated driver. I can't stress that enough. They only charge $10 admission for designated drivers. When you get your ticket/wristband you get a wine glass to sample wines, some bread and a guide of all the wineries being showcased. You also get free bread refills and free water all day. The weather can get pretty hot, so in really appreciate them keeping everyone safe and hydrated. This year I really liked the set up. The stage was all the way to the back, and I loved the large shaded area adjacent to it. If you love wine this is a fun event! I met people from all over the place. Overall people conduct themselves very well despite all the wine flowing! See you there next year!

Can you believe it?! Three World Series wins in five years for the Giants! This is the third trophy…read moretour in five years, this stop in Lodi. I attended the original tour in 2010 when it stopped in Stockton, so seeing it in Lodi is a complete treat. Most of this review will also apply to the other stops in the tour. The trophies were on display for pictures from 5PM-7PM so you had to get there a little early to ensure that you would be able to see the trophies. (All three of course..) They actually started letting people in early so it really doesn't hurt to get there early. You had to be inside the doors by 7 to make it in...they are not very forgiving when it comes to the time. Once you were inside they had you sit in the theater in order that you were in line, and let you watch highlights of the whole World Series while you were waiting. They took people back in rows of two, and then would fill those two rows up with people waiting outside. We probably waited 20 minutes outside and 40 inside, which was really awesome. Instead of a hour standing in line most of the time waiting was reliving the Series in a comfy chair. Bravo to whoever thought of that idea. The line moves pretty fast, they have their own "team" photographer who takes the picture or pictures you want (no touching the trophies themselves) but they try and discourage people from taking their own shots. The pictures end up online for you to order or do a digital download. You could also buy them there, we bought all three pictures we took for 50 bucks, it sounds like a lot but they turned out great and the first thing I did when I got home was scan them and turn them digital. So yes, it's all about publicity and probably a little about money but isn't everything? It's awesome to see ALL THREE trophies without the travel and special passes somewhere else. Totally worth the time, and just a reminder what an amazing time it is to be a San Francisco Giants Fan!! Orange and Black forever!!