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30
Years of Winery Weekend
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16th-18th 2022
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Just find Labor
Day weekend, and
Winery Weekend is the second weekend afterward.
September 15th -
17th 2023
September 13th - 15th 2024
September 12th - 14th 2025
September 18th - 20th 2025
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"There are not many things
in life
so beautiful as true friendship,
and not many things more uncommon."
- Unknown
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"It is one of
the blessings of
old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Just like Brigadoon, Winery Weekend appears every year
(ok, Brigadoon came every 100 years but work with me), and it
reflects the best that life has to offer - Fun,
Family, Frolic
and Friends. Now,
some of you may be asking, "What exactly is Winery
Weekend"?
Every year, beginning in 1991, a group of like-minded individuals
heads to the New
York Finger Lakes region for some camping, conversation,
and congeniality. This annual pilgrimage has grown
from 6 to as many as 40 participants.
Coincidentally, the Finger Lakes are home to some of the
best vineyards in the country. Camping + Wine + Great
Friends = a most relaxing and enjoyable weekend that for many,
is a social highlight of the season. Rest assured,
that nary an empty glass is to be seen.
And, of course, let us not forget the "breeding
factor". It seems like just yesterday (deedle de de...deedle
de de) that we were laughing about the idea of marriage and
kids (or dogs for some) and now look at us!
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Winery
Weekend goes something like this:
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Friday we make the drive
to Havana Glen
Park & Campground which is where we have been camping for
the last number of decades (since the NY State Parks don't like
us anymore). We set up camp, and the party begins. Throughout
Friday evening, as the remainder of the crowd straggles in, most
of us can be found in one of two places either sitting around
the campfire eating, drinking, and relaxing or up in the pavilion
enjoying the annual "this is my favorite Beer / Booze"
sampling event. Friday starts the weekend off right by catching
up with old friends while making new ones.
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Saturday
you wake up and eat some more, shake the fuzz from your brain, (see
left) and come up with the day's plan to explore this year's particular
Finger Lake. Visiting the wineries is a bit more"free range
organic" now but those with similar goals gather together,
jump into cars, and go out exploring (otherwise known as eating
and drinking). |
| At one point during
the day, we all rendevous at a central location for the "Mother
of all Lunches" and eat some more. It is very important to
keep your strength up while sampling all that wine don'tchaknow. |
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The
day continues in this manner until all participants are either too
drunk, or too tired to continue. It is now time for the
obligatory nap (or corn-hole championship of the world, your choice). |
| Saturday Night
we start the "Great Pot-Luck_Palozza" as everyone checks their crock
pots, brings their dishes to share, cooks whatever has to be cooked
(while playing corn-hole usually) and when the dinner bell is rang
we gather together once again in the pavilion for the biggest meal
of the weekend. |
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Of course after dinner, the drinking starts anew
as the guitars are broken out for the patented "Don't Know the Words"
sing-a-long. NOTE: It has been years since this has happened, but
I am hopefull it will re-appear one day. |
| Sunday is recuperation
day. After a leisurely breakfast, and subsequent "food
auction", the packing of the gear occurs based on the ratio of travel
time versus daylight left. I guarantee that after all is said
and done, a great time will have been had by all. |
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By now you should have a very good idea what
Winery Weekend is all about. Of course, if you are reading this
page, you have either been to Winery Weekend, or someone has
just invited you and referred you here. Either way,
Welcome New Friend or Hello Old Friend !!
I have known most of you for nearly 35 years
and I have to say that this annual weekend is proof that any
life can be rich without wealth. Thank you all for
the years of friendship. You guys are the greatest.
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your webminor: Gary Wolanske 
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