Julian Grape Stomp Festa: Old-World Grape Stomping in the Mountains, September 5

Overview

Some San Diego traditions you just have to do once. The Julian Grape Stomp Festa is one of them — an afternoon of stomping grapes barefoot the old-world way, wine tasting, live entertainment, and mountain air, up in the historic apple town of Julian. 2026 marks its 29th anniversary, and it happens Saturday, September 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the longtime Menghini Winery.

The concept is exactly as fun and messy as it sounds: kick off your shoes, roll up your pant legs, and let a barrel of grapes squish beneath your feet. It's family-friendly, it's a little silly in the best way, and it doubles as a great excuse for a day trip to one of San Diego County's most charming small towns — right as apple season is getting going.

What You Actually Need to Know

• Event: Julian Grape Stomp Festa (29th annual), by the Julian Chamber of Commerce
• Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Where: Menghini Winery — 1150 Julian Orchards Dr, Julian, CA 92036 (about a 60–90 minute drive from central San Diego)
• Admission: $25 regular (includes a wine glass, one tasting for 21+, stomping, and entertainment); kids 6–20 are $8
• Extra tastings: From $2 each; full pours and bottles available for purchase
• New in 2026: Additional shaded seating areas
• Tickets & info: visitjulian.com Grape Stomp page

What to Expect

The grape stomping is the main event — an old-world winemaking tradition turned crowd activity. You climb in, you stomp, your feet turn purple, and everyone laughs. It's the kind of thing kids and grandparents enjoy equally, and it makes for the best photos of your whole fall.

Around the stomping, your $25 admission includes a souvenir wine glass and one tasting (for those 21 and up), plus live entertainment all afternoon. If you find something you love, additional tastings start at just $2, and full glass pours and bottles are available to buy — so you can bring your favorites home. New for 2026, there's more shaded seating, which is a welcome upgrade for a warm early-September afternoon in the mountains.

It's a relaxed, all-ages festival atmosphere — part winery event, part small-town celebration, set against Julian's oak-and-orchard backdrop.

Make a Day of It in Julian

Half the reason to go is Julian itself. The historic gold-rush mountain town is one of San Diego County's favorite day trips, and early September lands right at the start of apple season (roughly August through October). So build the Grape Stomp into a full day:

• Get the pie. Julian is famous for apple pie — it's practically the town's official food. Grab a slice (or a whole pie to take home) before or after the festival.
• Pick apples. The U-pick orchards start rolling in the fall; a stop turns the trip into a proper harvest outing.
• Wander Main Street. The historic downtown is full of shops, tasting rooms, and small-town charm worth an hour or two.

It's a genuinely different side of San Diego County — cooler, pine-scented, and a world away from the coast, all within a scenic drive.

Good to Know

• It's family-friendly — kids have their own admission tier, and the stomping and entertainment are for all ages; tastings are 21+
• Bring a little cash — extra tastings, pours, and bottles are easy add-ons on site
• Dress to get messy — your feet will turn purple, so wear (or bring) something you don't mind staining, and consider a towel
• It's a mountain drive — Julian sits at ~4,200 feet up winding roads (SR-78/79); allow 60–90 minutes from the coast and check road conditions
• Dress in layers — early September can be warm by day and cooler in the mountains; the new shaded seating helps
• Buy tickets ahead — it's a beloved annual event, so grab yours before you make the drive

However you stomp it, the Grape Stomp Festa is one of the most memorable — and most photogenic — day trips on San Diego's fall calendar. For more happening around the county, browse our full event calendar.