Sip some fun this weekend at Geneva's Festival of the Vine

Good eats, good drinks, good times.

That sums up Geneva's Festival of the Vine, which takes place Friday through Sunday in downtown Geneva. It is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

You don't have to be a oenophile to enjoy the festival, as samplers are on the lookout for novice consumers. But there are also some wines that more experienced palates will prefer.

And organizers freshen up the festival each year.

"We always add new events to the festival," said Jean Gaines, president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event.

For example, this year they've added a bunch of wines to the tasting at the Flavor Fare.

There's a make-and-take model car activity for kids at the games area, as well as a "candy in the hay" dive and vegetable bowling.

There are more sellers at the arts and crafts fair.

But don't worry -- at the Flavor Fare at State and North Fourth streets, Geneva restaurants will still sell samples of three of their favorite signature items. Wines to accompany the foods are also served, and there is musical entertainment.

And …

Did you ever see the "I Love Lucy" episode where she stomps grapes in Italy, and think "Boy, that looks like fun?"

You can have your own "purple toes" experience from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Friday and 5 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, at a vat set up at the entertainment stage at the Flavor Fare. When you are done stomping, you'll put a footprint on a souvenir T-shirt.

Stores throughout downtown Geneva are having wine-and-food pairings, tasting events, seminars, book signings, a French dessert buffet with wines and specialty beers, sales and more.

There's stuff to do for teetotalers and the under-21 set: Games for kids at the courthouse on Third Street, sidewalk art from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the library, and an arts and crafts show Saturday and Sunday on the courthouse lawn.

On the fringe

The Stomp 5K race is at 8 a.m. Sunday at Peck Farm Park, 39W199 Kaneville Road. The cost is $25.

The Oscar Swan Inn has its dessert buffet from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at 1800 W. State St.

The Geneva Academic Foundation's Mighty Viking Boat Race is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Wheeler Park, Third and Stevens streets. It was originally scheduled at Island Park, but the park is in disrepair due to flooding in late August.

From the park, you can walk over to West Side Cemetery for a historical walk through the graveyard. Meet noted Geneva residents of long ago, as costumed re-enactors tell their tales. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children. It's from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For details, visit www.genevachamber.com.

Flavor Fare

But back to the main frivolity.

The way the Flavor Fare works is, you buy $1 tickets at a booth from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. You then spend your tickets at restaurant's booths under the tent. There are no refunds.

"I like the food event. You can't beat the chocolates from Graham's," said Gaines, when asked for her favorite part of the festival.

Participating restaurants are Aurelio's Pizza, Bien Trucha, Chianti's Carryout and Catering, Citizen Kane, Cocoa Bean Fine Desserts, Egg Harbor Café, Gen-Hoe, Genoa Pizza and Restaurant, Graham's Chocolates and Ice Cream, Inglenook Pantry, Josef's Elegante Meats and Deli, Kernel Fabyan's Gourmet Popcorn Shoppe, Mill Race Inn, Munchie P's, Roly Poly, Stockholm's, Tia Maria's and Urban Grille.

The wine list is broken into four levels:

Level 1-3 tickets ($3)

Beringer Stone Cellars merlot

Beringer white zinfandel

Lindemans South Africa chardonnay

The Little Penguin pinot grigio

Beringer Founders Estate Riesling

Level 2-5 tickets ($5)

Meridian chardonnay

Penfolds Koonunga Hills cabernet

Lindemans pinot noir

Rosemount shiraz

Yellowglen Pink

Level 3-7 tickets ($7)

Chateau St. Jean merlot

Matua sauvignon Blanc

Beringer Third Century cabernet

Greg Norman shiraz

Level 4-10 tickets ($10)

Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages

If you go

What: Festival of the Vine

Where: Downtown Geneva

When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Info: genevachamber.com