the Destination Magazine™

Wine, BBQ, and VIP Luxury: Why This NC Valley is the Only Place to Be This May!

Posted on by Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team
Wine, BBQ, and VIP Luxury: Why This NC Valley is the Only Place to Be This May!

Sip fancy vines, stomp some grapes, and feast on smoky BBQ! It’s a soulful, wine-soaked Saturday party in the Yadkin Valley.

Elkin, NC
April, 2026

If your idea of a perfect Saturday involves a Riedel glass in one hand and a smoky BBQ slider in the other, then clear your calendar for a journey to Elkin, North Carolina. On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the lush Elkin Municipal Park transforms into the state’s premier wine-pouring paradise. This long-standing tradition celebrates the rich viticulture of the Yadkin Valley, bringing together enthusiasts for a day of southern hospitality and world-class vines. Whether you are a seasoned sommelier or just someone who enjoys a crisp glass of Pinot on a sunny afternoon, this festival offers a sophisticated yet soulful escape into North Carolina’s wine country.

For those who want to elevate their afternoon, the VIP Experience remains the gold standard for festival-goers. For $100, you are treated like royalty from the moment you arrive. Forget the stress of hunting for a spot because VIPs enjoy a designated free parking area and a separate check-in to skip the morning lines. Once inside, you gain exclusive access to the VIP tent featuring private restrooms and an upgraded Riedel tasting glass. While general admission guests browse the food trucks, you’ll be feasting at the full BBQ and chicken buffet served by The Smoke Shack from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

If you prefer a more casual stroll, the General Admission Tasting Ticket is a fantastic value at $39 in advance or $45 at the gate. This allows you to sample from over 15 local wineries while enjoying live music from tribute bands playing high-energy hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Even the designated drivers can join the fun with a $10 Festival Entry Ticket, perfect for soaking up the artisan vendor market and the famous “grape stomping” tradition. The gates officially open for early VIP entry at 10:30 AM, with the full celebration flowing from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

For details or tickets, visit yadkinvalleywinefestival.com ar call (336) 526-1111

Subscribe Now

Weekly Destinations to Enjoy

We Tell You Where To Go!

Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team

Think of us as your digital tour guides with a serious design addiction. At The Destination Magazine, our creative team has spent over 40 years mastering the art of the “wish you were here” feeling. We’ve traded city traffic for scenic routes and cubicles for wide-open spaces, all to prove that the best stories aren’t found on a screen—they’re found down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. We’ve gotten so good at making rural look radical that we were even named an Adobe Success Story. Apparently, our layout and design techniques are officially “the gold standard,” but we just like to think of it as making sure the local hidden gems get the spotlight they deserve. Whether it’s a tiny mountain town or a coastal secret, we use our four decades of design magic to make sure you’re inspired to pack a bag, grab your keys, and go find some fresh air.