Every September, the Deerfield Valley trades its summer pace for something a little more indulgent: two days of local wine, cider, and craft food spread across downtown Wilmington and the base of Mount Snow. The Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival is one of the region’s longest-running fall traditions, and if you’re mapping out a September stay near Valley View Villa, it’s worth building your weekend around.
What Is the Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival
Organized by the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival has been a Deerfield Valley fall tradition for well over a decade. In 2026 it runs Friday, September 18 through Saturday, September 19, split between an intimate evening stroll in Wilmington and a larger tented festival at Mount Snow Resort. Expect more than 50 vendors across the two days — wineries, distilleries, cideries, breweries, food trucks, and Vermont artisans selling everything from pottery to maple products.
Friday Night: The Wine and Soup Stroll in Wilmington
The festival opens low-key, with a walkable tasting stroll through historic downtown Wilmington on Friday, September 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. Registration starts at the Chamber Visitor Center at 21 West Main Street, and from there you wander between participating shops and storefronts sampling wine alongside a lineup of hearty soups entered in a soup contest by local restaurants. It’s a smaller crowd than Saturday’s main event, and a good pick if you’d rather pair a Vermont evening with local shopping than a big festival grounds.
Saturday: The Main Festival at Mount Snow
Saturday, September 19 is the headline event, running 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. under tents at Mount Snow Resort’s base area in West Dover. This is where the festival’s full lineup shows up — more than 20 wineries and distilleries, alongside cider makers, breweries, food trucks, and farm-to-table vendors. Your ticket includes a tasting glass, sampling tickets, a raffle entry, and a shopping tote, and there’s live music playing throughout the tents most of the afternoon. A non-drinking ticket is available too, so designated drivers and anyone skipping alcohol can still browse the vendor tents and enjoy the food and music.
Tickets and Prices for 2026
Early-bird full tasting tickets run around $33 each day, with a lower soup-only option on Friday and a roughly $12 non-drinking ticket for Saturday. Confirm exact 2026 pricing on the festival’s official site before you buy. Prices step up a few dollars after August 31, so booking early saves a little and guarantees you’re not left waiting in a longer line-up at the gate. Tickets for both days are sold through the festival’s official site, and all sales are final — the event goes ahead rain or shine. One note for pet owners: dogs aren’t permitted at the Mount Snow festival grounds.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
Because the festival splits across two locations six miles apart, a car (or a short walk if you’re staying in Wilmington itself) makes the weekend easiest. Valley View Villa sits close to both, which is exactly why so many of our September guests build their stay around this one weekend — hot tub and pond time by day, wine tents by afternoon. Wear shoes you don’t mind on grass and gravel, bring a light jacket for the shift from midday sun to a cooler Vermont evening, and pace your tastings; with 50-plus vendors between the two days, nobody samples everything in one afternoon. If foliage is on your bucket list too, mid-to-late September is early for peak color in the valley, but the higher elevations around Mount Snow often start turning first.
🗺️ More to Explore Near Mount Snow
- September at Mount Snow — what else to expect this shoulder season
- Labor Day Weekend Guide — the festival weekend right before this one
- Apple Picking Near Mount Snow — orchards to pair with your harvest weekend
- Downtown Wilmington Walking Tour — the shops and streets you’ll stroll Friday night
- Vermont fall beverage trail — a day of breweries, wine, and spirits between foliage stops
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Vermont Wine and Harvest Festival in 2026?
The 2026 festival runs Friday, September 18 (Wine and Soup Stroll in downtown Wilmington, 4-7 p.m.) through Saturday, September 19 (main festival at Mount Snow, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.).
How much do tickets cost?
Early-bird full tasting tickets run around $33 per day, with a cheaper soup-only option Friday and a roughly $12 non-drinking ticket Saturday. Prices rise a few dollars closer to the event, so check the festival’s official site for exact 2026 pricing.
Is the festival kid-friendly?
Saturday’s non-drinking ticket lets non-tasting guests, including teens, browse the vendor tents, food, and music at Mount Snow. The event centers on wine and craft beverage sampling, so it leans more toward an adult outing than a family activity.
Can I bring my dog?
No — dogs are not permitted at the Mount Snow festival grounds on Saturday. If you’re staying at a dog-friendly rental like Valley View Villa, plan to leave pets at the house for this one.
Where should I stay for the festival weekend?
West Dover and Wilmington both sit within a few miles of both festival locations, making the Mount Snow area a convenient home base. We recommend booking well ahead of August 31 — September weekends near Mount Snow fill up fast once the early-bird ticket window is in view.
