Jim Miller is the owner of Moon Dancer Winery in York County, known as much for its perchhigh above the Susquehanna River that provides it with a fabulous view as for its extensive line of Moon Dog Cellars sweet wines.
Beer, cider, and the Moon Dancer line of wines are also sold there along with wood-fired pizza inside the French Country chateau that serves as the tasting room. The winery opened in 2004, and now has become one of the best-known wine destinations in central Pa.
Its Freedom Festival, scheduled for 2 to 8:30 p.m. today, highlights a list of wine festivals and events spread throughout the long weekend.
Owner Jim Miller said the event started as a result of the COVID lockdowns and the need to get past the pandemic restrictions a couple of years ago. This year, with inflation high and high gas prices through the roof, he said that the decision was made to make the event free. The music lineup includes Evan Crider, Crazy Joe n You Never Know, Unsupervised, and the headliner … Jeremiah Tall Band. Fireworks are planned to cap the event.
On the beverage production side, Miller said that the winery just brought in a “new bottling line from Italy to keep up with production with corks, screw caps and crown cap finish on our new releases. Also added an inline carbonator for our cider, seltzer, hard soda and sparkling wine production.”
The system should be operational in the next few weeks, he said.
Here’s a quick-hitting list of some of the other winery-related festivals and events scheduled around the region this weekend:
Pennsylvania
Adams County Winery, Orrtanna: Apple Pie wine release at the winery and Gettysburg shop, live music featuring The Willys at the winery from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy wine slushies, wine flights, wine by the glass or bottle, local craft beers, handmade wood-fired pizzas – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today
Springgate Vineyards, Harrisburg: 4th of July Weekend festival, including live music and food trucks – noon to 11 p.m. today and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: 4th of July party, including wine by the glass, flights, the White Sangria Slushie and a Sunset Blush Cosmo, plus music and food truck fare from Common Good Pizza – today through Monday
Pennswoods Winery, Chaddsford: July 4th at the Winery with lawn seating and live music (first-come, first-serve seating) – noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday
Setter Ridge Vineyards, Kutztown: BBQ 4th, enjoy ice cream flights plus wine and beers specials until noon, then Cetronia Soul Shakers will be playing from 1 to 4 p.m. BBQ from winery favorite Blazing Swine – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Shady Brook Farm Market, Yardley: Summer unWINED with fireworks, with live music – gates open at 5 with the music starting at 6:30, and fireworks ($18, you can purchase online) – event is scheduled for today
Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg: Strawberry festival – noon to 6 p.m. today and Sunday
Moon Dancer Winery overlooks the Susquehanna River from its location in Wrightsville, York County.
New Jersey
Villa Milagro Vineyards, Philipsburg: Chillin’ at the Villa (all day) – Dave Read performs today and Lou Pompilio on Sunday. $15 cover charge includes music, seating, wine tasting, with reservations required for groups of 4 or more – Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday
Four Sisters Winery, Belvidere: 4th of July Weekend Celebration, with Bistro menu available from noon to 5 p.m. all weekend. Live music all three days. – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
Old York Cellars Winery, Ringoes: Celebrate 4th of July Weekend, multiple wine tasting experiences to choose from, live music and food; here’s a link to all the details – 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Monday
White Horse Winery, Hammonton: 4th of July festivities, including live music by Oliver Dagum from 1 to 4 p.m., food by Pic-a-Lilli from noon to 4 p.m. and axe throwing – noon to 5 Monday
Sharrott Winery, Hammonton: July 4th Live Music from 1 to 4 p.m. It will be held on their covered patio or indoors, depending on the weather. Their Wine Bar Kitchen is also open – noon to 6 Monday
Maryland
Basignani Winery, Glencoe: Saturday Band Night series will feature wine, brick oven pizza, and live music from Liberty Road Plant. Tickets are $10 per person. – 6 to 9 p.m. today
Lands Point Winery & Vineyard, Chestertown: Opened for the first time on Friday and is open noon to 7 p.m. today. The winery is located on a historic farm with historic buildings that are listed on the Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Site Survey. Dave and Eileen Smack have been Maryland Eastern Shore residents a majority of their lives and now have taken a hobby on the historic Lands Point Farm in 2008 and made it an experience worth sharing – noon to 7 today
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, Thurmont: Independence Day Celebration, featuring Basic Bowl Bros. (noon to 4 p.m.) with music performed by Faded Denim (1 to 4 p.m.) – 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday
More:
Eastern Pa. winery’s new release features a unique blend, approach
Winery on Md.’s Eastern Shore one of a group finding strength in numbers
Family-run central Pa. winery shuts its tasting room, switches to new distribution model
