OJAI — For 32 years, the Ojai Wine Festival has served as the primary non-profit fundraising effort of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West and its numerous philanthropic endeavors that serve to enhance lives both locally and internationally. To date, the festival has raised over 1.2 million dollars for the Rotary Club of Ojai-West Foundation. This year, the 32nd annual Ojai Wine Festival will be taking place Sunday, June 10th, from noon – 4 p.m. on the shores of scenic Lake Casitas.
This year’s festival has expanded to include an exceptional collection of wineries, a unique silent auction, an expanded beer garden with over 35 national and regional craft beers, a selection of local restaurants selling culinary creations, fine jewelry and craft vendors, musical entertainment, a lakeside dance floor, and an extensive VIP tasting experience featuring early event entry, exclusive wines and premium hors d’oeuvres. Event-goers will also receive a crystal wine glass upon event entry with a complimentary wine glass engraving.
In light of the devastating Thomas Fire, the Rotary Club of Ojai-West will be donating a percentage of the 2018 festivals’ proceeds to Thomas Fire relief efforts.
In addition to its local humanitarian efforts, the club supports educational programs (GoCARE) in Managua Nicaragua, the Grace Centre in Zambia and the Nomad Project in Niger.
“I take pride in knowing the Ojai Wine Festival is giving proceeds to others who need relief,” says Angela May, Executive Director of Ojai Wine Festival. “By purchasing a ticket to the event, people take part in helping our local community through our Thomas Fire donations, but we haven’t stopped our other local and international causes such as supporting education, youth activity programs, and educational scholarships.”
100 percent of the proceeds from the festival go back to these vital projects supported by the Rotary Club of Ojai-West Foundation.
For additional information on the Ojai Wine Festival and the impactful causes it supports, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.ojaiwinefestival.com.
About Ojai Wine Festival: In 1987, the Rotary Club of Ojai-West launched a small wine-tasting event to bring fine wine and craft beer together for Ojai Valley Residents. Now in its 32nd year, the Ojai Wine Festival has grown into a regionally recognized signature fundraising event that attracts over 4,000 people from Northern, Central, and Southern California. All proceeds directly support various international charitable causes including the Polio Eradication Project, English as a second language project and educating young women in Niger and Zambia to prevent them working on the streets, as well as local projects like the Rotary Floating Classroom, the Girl’s Empowerment Workshop and Ojai’s historic and beloved summer band concerts in Libbey Park.
Spread along the shoreline of picturesque Lake Casitas, the Ojai Wine Festival has evolved into one of Southern California’s premier beverage tasting experiences. Every year, over 60 wineries and a selection of breweries participate, along with a selection of local restaurants, caterers, and fine arts and crafts vendors. The atmosphere is enhanced by a steady stream of live music and complimentary boat rides on the Rotary Floating Classroom. Guests can shop for one of a kind gifts, or bid on bottles of fine wine, private tasting parties, VIP winery tours, and other luxury items at the annual Silent Auction.
To learn more visit, http://ojaiwinefestival.com/