Kennett Summerfest, one of the region’s premier wine-tasting events, will return this year on Sunday, June 11th. Summerfest celebrates exceptional local wineries and distilleries, bringing together wine, spirits, cheese, and live music in a sophisticated festival atmosphere.
Early-bird ticket pricing for the regular session of Kennett Summerfest is in effect until Memorial Day—or until tickets for the event, which sold out last year, are gone. Discounted tickets, which are $65 each through May 29th, cover entrance to the festival, a tasting glass, and unlimited tastings of wines and cocktails. Ticket prices will go up to $75 after Memorial Day.
Summerfest celebrates exceptional local wineries and distilleries, bringing together wine, spirits, cheese, and live music in a sophisticated festival atmosphere. (Becca Matthias, photo)
Ticket holders have the unique opportunity to taste wines from some of the best local and regional wineries, as well as mixed drinks featuring spirits from local distilleries. In addition, Bluestem Botanicals will be creating some of their organic, farm-crafted signature mocktails for designated drivers. A curated collection of the area’s finest cheese purveyors and makers, including the award-winning Birchrun Hills Farm and The Farm at Doe Run, will also be on hand to help festival goers find the perfect wine and cheese pairings. With artisanal food vendors, spectacular professionally designed Kennett Blooms Floral Flash installations, and live music from Bryan Tuk + The Big Brass Ones, Kennett Summerfest promises to be a Sunday afternoon to savor.
“An exclusive pre-Summerfest farm-to-table lunch with wine pairings is the ultimate Summerfest connoisseur experience,” says Kennett Collaborative Community Engagement Manager Kelli Prater. The three-course “Farm & Vine” meal will be prepared with fresh seasonal local ingredients by Zack and Karessa Hathaway of Sweet Amelia’s, the newest addition to Kennett Square’s fine dining scene. Wine pairings will be provided by Kieran and Kristie Robinson, who are Kennett Square residents and co-owners of the celebrated R FIVE WINES. The Robinsons will share their philosophy behind the food and wine pairings in the intimate and charming event space at Work2Gether on State Street. The Farm & Vine experience begins at 12:30pm on June 11th. Farm & Vine ticket holders will also enjoy early admission to Kennett Summerfest.
Farm & Vine, an exclusive pre-Summerfest farm-to-table lunch with wine pairings is the ultimate Summerfest connoisseur experience. (Josh Case, photo)
Kennett Summerfest celebrates the rich and diverse flavors of Chester County—from the award-winning wines being produced by expert local vintners from long-tended local vines that are now coming of age to some of the area’s signature cheeses like those from Birchrun Hills Farm, which are made on a local family farm from high-quality milk and aged in an underground aging facility.
“The event is a true feast for the senses,” says Prater. In addition to wine, spirits, and food, live music from first-class musicians, and the open-air festival ambiance under white tents in charming historic Kennett Square, the event coincides with Kennett Blooms: Floral Flash. “One of this year’s large-scale Floral Flash installations will be within the festival area on South Broad Street,” says Prater.
Artisanal vendors like Crème will bring their homemade crème brûlée, including some delicious vegan options. “It will be fired right in front of you,” says Prater, “and Mezzaluna will be creating their delicious wood-fired pizzas on site as well. Ticket holders will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles of wines and spirits they enjoy and take advantage of our convenient wine check. A portion of the proceeds from those sales will go right back into the Kennett Square community.”
Participating wineries, distilleries, and vendors are listed on the Kennett Summerfest website, which is being updated regularly. Chaddsford Winery and R FIVE WINES are among the wineries joining returning favorites such as Casa Carmen Wines and Wayvine Winery & Vineyard. Kennett’s own Copperglen Still Works, a favorite distillery featuring post-dinner liqueurs, is set to return. Revivalist Spirits, which is new to Summerfest but not new to the spirits scene, was named the best craft gin distillery in the country in 2020.
Once again this year, one of the large-scale Kennett Blooms: Floral Flash installations will be within the festival area on South Broad Street. (Becca Matthias, photo)
Kennett Summerfest, now in its second year, is playing a role in celebrating and educating people about the burgeoning local wine scene. While some are still surprised to learn that Pennsylvania ranks fourth nationally in grape cultivation, the state is growing into a serious place for refined and elegant wines. Its moderate climate and hilly topography, in addition to microclimates with good elevation, soil composition, and drainage are attracting more and more talented and world-class wine makers. Local Chester County wines have been receiving national accolades for years, and wine connoisseurs are increasingly taking note of the area as a serious wine-growing region.
Kennett Summerfest is a fundraiser for Kennett Collaborative. The proceeds go towards funding events and programs throughout the year that make Kennett Square a vibrant and beautiful place to live, work, and visit. “We’re grateful to our featured Summerfest sponsor Cocoon, for their support of the event and their investment in our community,” Prater says. Kennett Collaborative initiatives include Third Thursdays on State Street, the KSQ Farmers Market, Kennett Blooms, Memorial Day Parade, the weekly Around the Square newsletter, the Holiday Village Market, and Christmas in Kennett.
Find tickets for “Farm & Vine” and regular Kennett Summerfest admission at kennettsummerfest.com and follow the event @kennett.collaborative
