Memorial Day and barbecues go hand in hand with one another. The Wine and BBQ Experience put on by the Garden State Wine Growers Association brings together great local wine and awesome food to kick off the summer in the best way.

Wine and BBQ Experience by Garden State Wine Growers Association Heads to Schooley’s Mountain Park Memorial Day Weekend

The Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA), a coalition of 43 member wineries across the state of New Jersey, will kick-off its festival season on Memorial Day weekend with the “Wine and BBQ Experience” returning to Schooley’s Mountain Park in Long Valley, New Jersey on Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 from noon to 5 pm (rain date Monday, May 30).

This will be New Jersey’s biggest wine & BBQ holiday extravaganza.  Tickets are priced at $25 in advance and $30 on-site and can be purchased here. Sampling will take place from 12 noon – 4:30pm each day.  Those 21 and over that show proper ID will receive a wine glass and wristband with their admission. Those that do not want to sample will pay a $5 admission fee. The Admission Tent will open at 11:30am each day.

Twenty-one of the state’s finest wineries will be sampling over 200 wines at the event, as well as providing a list of wines for sale that pair best with barbecue.

The two-day event will also feature award-winning pit masters selling their barbecue including Ben’s BBQ, (Pitmaster and Kansas City Barbecue Society Certified Judge) and winner of multiple Star Ledger/Monmouth Park BBQ & Craft Beer Festival Awards; Texas Smoke, multiple winner of the Sussex County Champions of the Grill; Spanky’s BBQ & Catering, 2015 Alpha Phi Delta King of Wings Champion; Lost In The Woods (Pitmaster/Food Truck) and Oink and Moo BBQ (Food Truck); Nomad Pizza (Food Truck)  gourmet brick oven pizza and Cherries on Top (Food Truck) selling delectable frozen dessert treats.

In addition to the great award-winning New Jersey wine and BBQ, the event will feature a large selection of artisan crafters and music performed by two nationally-acclaimed touring bands.  On Saturday, attendees will be entertained by the Honey Island Swamp Band and Sunday’s band is Astrograss

The Garden State Wine Growers Association has also named the Fisher House Foundation as the official charity partner of the Wine & BBQ Experience. Proceeds from each ticket sale will go to the Foundation, best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve.  In addition to selecting the Fisher House Foundation as its official charity partner for the event, all military personnel with valid ID will receive 10% discounts for purchases at all winery tents.

Attendees will also have the chance to see their favorite wineries honored when results of the annual New Jersey Wine Competition are announced on Saturday afternoon. Organized annually by Dr. Gary Pavlis of Rutgers Unversity, the contest features the awarding of three “Governor’s Cup’ trophies for best overall, best dessert and best fruit wine categories and the announcement of Winery of the Year.

Satellite Parking has been secured with the Washington Twp. School System.  A shuttle will be activated to run between Cucinella Elementary School and Schooley’s Mountain Park both days in case of overflow crowds.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.