Palisade, where the festival will be held, is a small farming community just east of Grand Junction. Palisade is the peach capital of Colorado, and also produces apples, cherries, apricots, plums and other fruit and vegetables. Palisade is also considered the wine capital of Colorado, with more than 14 wineries in the immediate area. The festival venue, the Wine Country Inn, sits in the midst of vineyards with the dramatic Bookcliffs as a backdrop.
Colorado National Monument, with its wonderfully eroded sandstone cliffs and monoliths, lies just beyond the Grand Junction city limits.
The Black Canyon National Park is an easy day trip from Grand Junction. The Gunnison River has carved a canyon that is unparalleled in the United States for its combination of depth, steepness, and narrowness. In carving out its 48-mile long, half-mile deep gorge, the Gunnison drops more in elevation than the Mississippi does in its entire length.
Grand Mesa dominates the eastern skyline of Palisade and Grand Junction. A short drive on paved roads carries you 6000 vertical feet up the world's largest flat-topped mountain, where you can walk through golden aspen groves or fish for trout in one of the 300 lakes and reservoirs found on the Mesa.
Other outdoor activities available include white-water rafting, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, bicycling through the orchards and vineyards, golfing, and dinosaur excavation sites.
While in the Grand Junction area, you can visit award-winning wineries, galleries, theatres, museums, and historical sites.
Grand Junction also offers many opportunities for shopping and fine dining. No matter what your tastes or budget, we are sure you will enjoy your Festival experience in Grand Junction.
