After a year of homeschooling the kids, a wine festival might just be what every parent is in need of right now — especially if they are combining two years of festivities into one.

The 9th and 10th Front Range Wine Festival is set to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Main Park, 300 Locust St. in Windsor, with more than 35 wineries showcasing over 300 different varieties of wine.

Windsor resident Tim Bowers and his company The Bowers Group founded the event.

"There's a big festival called the Colorado Mountain Wine Fest and I went out there with some friends and we thought it was cool and needed something like that here," Bowers explained. "So we started the Front Range Wine Fest in 2012, and slowly added four or five other festivals now."

ESTES PARK, CO - AUGUST 14:Visitors walk among wine tasting booths and other vendors during the Estes Park Wine Festival at Bond Park in Estes Park Aug. 14, 2021. The organizers of the event are bringing the wine festival to Windsor next week. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

This past weekend, Bowers hosted the 6th annual Estes Park Wine Festival at Bond Park.

"We get people from all over the country for this one," Bowers said. "They specifically come to Estes and call us to make sure when the wine fest is so that they can be there that weekend."

While attendance was slightly less than in past years, the turnout was still impressive, especially after a pandemic and with so many other events taking place over the same weekend in and around northern Colorado.

Each general admission ticket gets attendees a commemorative wine glass, wine tote and unlimited tastings—yes, you read that right, unlimited tastings.

VIP tickets also get a commemorative glass, wine tote and unlimited tastings but also granted access to a VIP tent with catered food and a wine bar.

Some of the more than 35 wineries that will be showcasing more than 300 different varieties of wine at the festival include Sweet Heart Winery from Loveland, Bad Bitch Cellars in Eaton, Graystone Winery from Clifton, Vino Passarelli out of Lakewood and Spero Winery from Denver.

"It's all Colorado wine," Bowers explained. "There is roughly 120 wineries in Colorado and quite a few on the Front Range. Colorado is becoming a wine destination, but it's nothing like California or Oregon or Washington yet."

ESTES PARK, CO - AUGUST 14:Visitors sit in the grass and enjoy the weather between acts on the stage during the Estes Park Wine Festival at Bond Park in Estes Park Aug. 14, 2021. The organizers of the event are bringing the wine festival to Windsor next week. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

The Front Range Wine Festival is the second largest wine event in the state, drawing over 2,500 people to Windsor for the event, Bowers said.

"I had some wine from Bad Bitch Cellars and it was really good. I had their strawberry Riesling," said Wade Hansen from Aurora.  "These businesses just came out of COVID and this is a good way to get them back into black."

Along with wineries and cellars, a variety of businesses, service providers and food vendors will be in attendance.

Some the vendors scheduled to be at the festival are:

  • Bent Hinge Trading Company
  • Choice Organics
  • Bama Breeze Barbecue
  • Doterra
  • Love My Shawl
  • Origins Wood Fired Pizza
  • Pastamore
  • Sapo Guapo Tacos
  • Vino Ography
  • Zesty Moose

ESTES PARK, CO - AUGUST 14:Visitors walk among wine tasting booths and other vendors during the Estes Park Wine Festival at Bond Park in Estes Park Aug. 14, 2021. The organizers of the event are bringing the wine festival to Windsor next week. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)

Live music will take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the main stage.

Attendees are welcome to bring wagons to tote purchases in, picnic baskets with snacks and food and lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Outside alcohol is prohibited.

Organizers have partnered with the Super 8 by Wyndham Windsor, 1265 Main St. and AmericInn by Wyndham Windsor, 7645 Westgate Drive to provide parking. Shuttles will run between the hotels and festival every 30 minutes.

Participants must be 21 years or older to attend the festival. Pets are not allowed at the wine festival and there will be no re-entry once attendees exit the event.

Tickets are $50 at the gate for general admission and $100 online for VIP tickets.

In addition to the Estes Park Wine Festival and Front Range Wine Festival, Bowers has several more wine festivals on the calendar including the Boulder Valley Wind Festival on Saturday, Sept. 11 and a holiday wine fest in Estes Park on Saturday, Nov. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 28.

More details and information on the Front Range Wine Festival and other upcoming events can be found by going to http://www.frontrangewinefestival.com.

If you go

What: Front Range Wine Festival 2021

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21

Where: Main Park, 300 Locust St., Windsor

For more information, go to www.frontrangewinefestival.com