It is one month until an expanded Vines & Vittles returns to Webb Park in Rancho Bernardo.
The Wranglers Square Dance Club, the Gyminny Kids Circus Demo Team and a petting zoo courtesy of Snows Pony Rides & Farm Animals are among new additions to the 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 fundraiser benefiting the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society and Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, according to co-chair and Rotarian Mike Fuqua.
Among the family friendly entertainment returning since the inaugural Vines & Vittles was held in 2019 are comic ventriloquist Joe Gandelman, Magic Mike (a professional magician), The Shirthouse Band (it specializes in bluegrass music) and Mariachi Victoria de San Diego (a mariachi band).
The all-ages festival with a Western theme will also have food, wine and beer tastings.
All refreshments (including alcoholic beverages) and activities are included in the ticket price, Fuqua said.
The full-access ticket (for those 21 and older) is $40 in advance and $50 at the event. A food-only ticket is $25 and a ticket for children ages 6 to 12 is $10. Children under age 6 are free.
Tickets sold online at
Fuqua said he expects ticket sales to take off closer to the event due to an advertising campaign, a strong website and word-of-mouth.
Organizers knew there would be challenges in putting the fundraiser together coming out of the COVID pandemic, which has impacted the number of restaurants able to participate, he said.
“Our fears of how restaurants would be hit by the pandemic have come to fruition, because we do not have as many food vendors,” Fuqua said. “But we are hopeful and have some ideas about catering.
“But we have more wineries this time and about the same number of breweries,” he added.
Providing the vittles (food samples) are Denny’s, Duff’s Doggz, The Fishery, Floating Lotus Catering, Naturally Desi Indian Food, Miguel’s Cocina, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Round Table Pizza and Sidny’s Bagels & Deli.
Serving the vines (beverage samples) will be several area breweries and wineries. They are Abnormal Beer, Abnormal Wine, Barrel Riot, Belching Beaver Brewery, Campo Creek Vineyards, Cordiano Winery, Corre Caminos Vineyard, Hatfield Creek Vineyard & Winery, Highland Valley Wine Country, Jacked Up Brewery, Koi Zen Cellars, Latitude 33 Brewing Co., Mermaid Valley Vineyard, Milagro, Mission Cellars, PRP Wine International and Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery.
Fuqua said some restaurants do not have enough employees to serve, so this is among ways volunteers are needed.
Anyone can volunteer, including youths who will be provided with a letter verifying their community service hours if needed for school or an organization, he said. Teens will likely be assigned to the children’s activities. Help is also needed with event set-up and tear down.
One thing that has gone better than expected is fundraising through sponsorships, Fuqua said. Organizers set a $40,000 goal and as of Tuesday had received $65,000. This is due to sponsorships ranging from $250 to $5,000 plus a $15,000 grant from the County of San Diego.
“We have had a lot of interest and a lot more sponsors than last time,” Fuqua said.
Sponsorships are still being accepted. Details are on the Vines & Vittles website.
Fuqua said proceeds will help the RB Historical Society and Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo fulfill their missions. For the Rotarians that means funding many service projects and philanthropic endeavors.
