Boasting a well-developed local wine industry, the village of Naples, New York, annually hosts the celebration of its fruits of labor, the Naples Grape Festival. Similar to its Italian counterpart, the village is famous for its luscious vineyards and diverse wine varieties, some of which can only be purchased at the Naples Grape Festival. On top of that, you'll witness more grape delicacies than you can count and groove to jazzy music performed by local New York and Rochester musicians.
Festival Program
During this vibrant two-day event, you'll have a chance to learn more about grapes and wines than you ever could. Local and national artisans are displaying dozens of hand-made crafts, available for purchase. Brahm-Moore Craft Beverage Garden is the highlight of the festival, offering attendees to sample wines and brews. Competing with the Beverage Garden for the number of options is the food court, where you can satisfy your craving and taste plenty of delicious appetizers, including ice cream, fruit, pies and more.
Live Music
Music accompanies all the merriment at the Naples Grape Festival. Six or eight musical acts perform at the festival grounds, entertaining the public with striking songs and entertainment. The past lineup included Chris Trapper, Trent Yule, Rollin Rust, Raquel & the Wildflowers, The Mighty High and Dry, and the Kara & Parker Story.
Grape Pie Contest
The Grape Pie Contest, famously known as the World's Greatest Grape Pie Contest, has been held as part of the Naples Grape Festival program since the 1980s and continues to be an essential part of the celebration. Grape pies are a specialty of the Finger Lakes region, and each year, professional and amateur bakers compete for the title of the most delicious pie. The three winners all receive inscribed festival plaques, with the first place being awarded with a $50 check.
Schedule & Admission
The festivities span from 10 am until 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. The event takes place regardless of the weather. The Grape Pie Contest kicks off on Saturday. Admission to the festival grounds is completely free. However, you do need to pay fees for parking and entry to the Brahm-Moore Craft Beverage Garden. Parking near Lake Niagara Lane costs $5, while admission to the Beverage Garden is $20 per person or $35 for two people.
Location
The event takes place outside of Memorial Town Hall and Naples High School at North Main Street, also known as State Route 21. Entry to the Memorial Town Hall is prohibited during the festival. If you're traveling from another city or a different state, consider making a stopover in either Rochester, which is 45 miles (72 km) from Naples, or Canandaigua, which lies 21 miles (34 km) from Naples.
History of the Festival
First hosted in 1872 as the Annual Naples Fair and Grape Festival, the event has been an ongoing tradition for decades. After unfortunate pauses and hiatuses due to World War II, the community attempted to bring back the festival in 1961 and 1971. The third attempt was successful, and in 1988, the Naples Grape Festival was re-established in its current two-day form with a grape pie contest.
