Eleven Ramona Wineries Pour in One Field on November 7, and It Usually Sells Out

Overview

The Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival runs Saturday, November 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center. It's in its 14th year, and the organisers say it usually sells out.

Here's the case for driving to Ramona for it.

Ramona is San Diego County's quiet wine region, and this is the one day a year most of it pours in the same field.

Eleven local wineries and spirit makers, all in one place:

Castelli & Pizarro Family Winery · Mermaid Valley Vineyard · Old Julian Vineyards & Winery · Pamo Valley Winery · Ramona Ranch Winery · Rancho San Martin · San Diego Sunshine Distillery · Scenic Valley Ranch Vineyards · Sky Valley Cellars · Succulent Cellar · Uvas

Visiting those individually would take you several weekends and a lot of driving. Tastings here are complimentary one-ounce pours, included with entry.

Alongside the wine: around fifty juried artisans, nine performances across three music areas, a silent auction of over forty items in the Art Barn, and a live auction hosted by comedian Josh Lawson.

Two things to know before you buy, and the first one will decide whether you can come at all.

It's strictly 21 and over. Children are not permitted.

That's unusually firm for a daytime festival — not "under-21s discouraged," not "kids free," but not permitted. Plan childcare.

And online sales close Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m. After that it's gate only, at a higher price.

Tickets

Two categories, and that's it — no VIP, no kids, no senior or military pricing is published.

Buying in advance, through Friday November 6:

• Regular — $70
• Designated Driver — $55

At the gate on the day: higher. (Their own site publishes two different gate prices — see the note at the bottom. Budget for up to $85 regular and $65 designated driver, and buy in advance to avoid the question entirely.)

What Regular entry includes:

• Wine and craft beverage tastings — complimentary one-ounce pours
• Live music on three stages
• Both auctions — silent and live
• A commemorative piece of artwork, a festival glass, a wristband, a programme and a gift bag

Designated Driver includes all of that except the alcohol tastings.

There are no physical tickets — you give your name at the Registration Desk. Check in any time before 4 p.m.

Getting There and Being There

• Where: Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona — adjacent to the Ramona Rodeo grounds
• Parking is free, in a large public lot at the entrance gate
• ADA parking is in the front row near Registration. A placard is required
• Service animals are welcome. No other pets
• The main stage pavilion is a fully shaded concrete patio — useful to know if you want somewhere to sit out of the sun
• Gourmet food and non-alcoholic drinks are for sale 11 to 5, and complimentary bottled water is available behind the Art Barn
• There is no ATM on site. Bring cash
• It runs rain or shine

One practical note on terrain: the grounds are described as mostly flat grass, though some exhibitor and music areas are sloped. Wear shoes you can stand in on grass for a few hours, not sandals.

Where the Money Goes

All proceeds go to the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

That's the organisation behind Ramona's public murals — which, if you've driven through the town and noticed the art on the buildings, is what you were looking at. The festival is their fundraiser.

This year's art contest winner is Terry Truett of Ramona.

Good to Know

• Buy online before 7 p.m. Friday. It's cheaper and it removes all doubt about the gate price.
• No children. At all. 21-plus, strictly.
• It usually sells out, per the organisers.
• $55 for the designated driver ticket gets everything but the pours — fair value given you're doing the driving on a mountain road.
• Parking's free and the lot is at the gate.
• Bring cash. No ATM.
• Check in before 4 p.m. The festival runs to 5.
• It's about an hour from central San Diego. Plan the drive home around having a designated driver.

Why It's Worth It

San Diego County has a real wine region that almost nobody outside it talks about, and it's in Ramona. Backcountry, high-elevation, small-production, family-run.

One Saturday a year, eleven of those producers set up in a field together with three stages of music and fifty artisans around them, and hand the whole day's takings to the people who paint the town's murals.

For $70 that's a genuinely good deal, and for $55 it's a good deal even if you're the one driving.

Buy before Friday night.

For more things worth doing, browse our events calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival? Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where is it? The Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona, next to the Ramona Rodeo grounds.

How much are tickets? $70 regular and $55 designated driver in advance. Gate prices are higher — confirm the exact amount with the organisers, as their site publishes two different figures.

Can I bring children? No. The event is strictly 21 and over and children are not permitted.

What's included in a ticket? Wine and craft beverage tastings as one-ounce pours, live music on three stages, both auctions, a commemorative artwork, a festival glass, a wristband, a programme and a gift bag. The designated driver ticket includes everything except the tastings.

How many wineries are there? Eleven local wineries and spirit makers are listed.

Is parking free? Yes, in a large public lot at the entrance gate. ADA parking is in the front row near Registration and requires a placard.

When do online sales close? Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m.

Who benefits? The Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All festival proceeds go to it.

Can I bring my dog? Only ADA-recognised service animals. No other pets.