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) .

Buon Giorno fellow Italian foodies!…read more This was our first time attending and we both had a blast at the Lodi Festa Italiana! It is an annual one day event held on the grounds of the Grape Bowl and there was plenty of food and wine to sample and activities and entertainment to enjoy. Admission was $15 a person at the gate but I believe you could purchase tickets in advance for a special price. Parking was free. There were several food vendors, bands playing, and even an opera performance! In addition, there were cooking demos, bocce ball, a car show and a sauce contest where you could pay $5 to be a judge. In the main hall they had craft vendors and a very interesting history of local Italians who have contributed to the community. While attendance was great, the Grape Bowl grounds are spacious enough so you could walk around easily. I would definitely love to attend this event next year and I highly recommend it. Alla famiglia!

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!