One weekend every October for the past 39 years, downtown Riverbank has transformed into entertainment central for the whole family combining wine tasting, cheese sampling, live music, a carnival, vendors and an array of edible delights.

The Riverbank Cheese and Wine Exposition will be held Oct. 10-11 opening at 10 a.m., and this year the festival will be open a little later, until 8 p.m. Along with the new timeframe there is a new skate demonstration that will be held at the Riverbank skate park, which is in close proximity to the event, where there will be promotions and contests for guests to enjoy.

This premier street festival is hosted by the City of Riverbank. Wine and cheese tasting is $30 per person, but the festival is free and delivers a variety of entertainment to thousands of people from all over the area.

In March 2014, the City of Riverbank purchased the rights to the festival from the Riverbank Rotary Club and hired the firm Chris Ricci Presents to help continue the Cheese and Wine tradition.

“The Riverbank Cheese and Wine Expo could have disappeared if the City had not stepped in to take over the execution of the event,” said Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien. “The loss would have been a disappointment to many who believe this event helps showcase Riverbank.”

The geography of the festival has changed and will be focused on the downtown streets near the Plaza del Rio. The wine tasting has been moved to the Masonic Lodge, where there will be an estimated two dozen wineries on hand to pour. The wine paired with a variety of cheeses like the classics Monterey Jack, cheddar, and a few more exotic cheeses like flavored goat cheese and artisan varieties.

A mixture of musical entertainers will hit the main stage along with a Hispanic heritage stage where they will have “Fiesta Latina” that will include dancing horses and Spanish language music and arts.

The main stage will have musical acts like the Lodgepole Pickers, Three on the Tree, Triple D, Patty Castillo Davis Band, City Sickness and much more which will include a variety of genres, covers, reggae, and rockabilly.

There will be a stage dedicated to youth musicians that will have students from Valley Music Institute, GK Music and more.

“This will be my tenth Riverbank Cheese and Wine Expo and I am looking forward to many more in the future,” expressed O’Brien. “I encourage all to come to this (admission) free event and enjoy the music, food and fun.”

Riverbank Cheese and Wine Expo
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 10-11
Santa Fe and 3rd Street in Riverbank