Sweet Escape Festival 2026 | Linganore Winecellars Wine & Music Festival

Ice cold wines, hot summer beats, and a vibe that you can’t find anywhere else.

This summer, we’re giving you permission to lean into the sweeter side of life. Indulge in the Sweet Escape Festival at Linganore Winecellars – a throwback to our roots, where sweet wines ruled the scene and life felt a little more carefree. It’s the familiar wine & music festival you love, with some sweet new twists. We promise to keep the wine flowing and the energy vibrant – all we need is you + your crew.

We heard you wanted some fresh new beats, so we snagged some of the DMV's hottest bands to keep the music going and the dance floor packed.

SATURDAY, JULY 18:

DJ Sprang Intl - MC | 10AM-6PM

TBD | 11:30AM-1:30PM

Rare Essence | 3:30-5:30PM

SUNDAY, JULY 19:

DJ Sprang Intl - MC | 10AM-6PM

TBD | 11:30AM-1:30PM

The Junkyard Band | 3PM-5PM

New on the menu, check out these sweet adds for our festival goers:

• Exclusive Sweet Bite for VIPs: VIP guests will enjoy a special sweet bite with their tasting inside the VIP hall.
• Themed Specialty Drink Menu: Think cotton-candy topped sparkling wine, rock candy stirrers and red wine floats to keep you cool in that summer heat.

PLUS, the same new additions from May:

• Wine Cocktail Cabana: Visit our brand new Wine Cocktail Cabana, located right by the stage to make it even easier to keep your glass full and the dance floor packed.
• [2] Complimentary Zero-Proof Drinks for Designated Drivers & Ages 18-20: You're here to party, sans wine. Enjoy two complimentary non-alchoholic drinks keep yourself hydrated while you dance the day away.
• Housemade Niagara Grape Juice in Bottles: Perfect for kids or grown-up kids, our housemade grape juice is the best way to taste the vineyard without the buzz.

Customize your experience with your choice of General Admission, VIP, Designated Driver, and Early Access ticket options!

General Admission Tickets Include:

• Access into the festival grounds at 9AM
• Keepsake 9oz stemmless wine glass for sampling
• Unlimited sampling of 19 different wines from Linganore Winecellars beginning at 10AM
• Shopping from over 40+ boutique vendors
• Live music from 10AM-6PM
• Bottle sales, glass sales, speciality cocktails & drinks available for purchase from 10AM-6PM
• Cell phone charging stations available on site

VIP Tickets Include:

All of the perks of General Admission, plus:

• Streamlined VIP entry into the festival - no waiting in long lines!
• Bonus VIP gift in addition to the 9oz keepsake glass
• Access into the VIP Hall, which includes air conditioning and indoor restrooms
• Bonus wine tasting of 6 exclusive wines in the VIP Hall + a sweet bite to pair!

Designated Drivers & Ages 18-20 enjoy discounted tickets, plus will enjoy their choice of two specialty zero-proof beverages at the festival. Linganore Winecellars offers a number of zero proof options for designated drivers and other non-drinkers to enjoy throughout the event.

Early Access Tickets allow ticket holders to enter the festival grounds as early as 6AM. All attendees who wish to enter the grounds at 6AM MUST have an early access ticket type. Early Access ticket holders may exit and re-enter the festival at a later time if they wish. (Yes, we're okay with you napping in your car. And yes, we're that excited for the festival too.)

All drinking ticket types will enjoy unlimited sampling of 19+ wines at the Sweet Escape Festival! Plus, with over 40 wines from Linganore Winecellars, craft beers from Red Shedman Brewery, and a handful of seasonal speciality beverages, you're sure to find something to keep your glass filled all day long.

Don't miss out on fan favorites like Skipjack, Sangria, or Mountain Red (hello, adult grape juice!). Maybe you're in the mood for something a little drier - may we suggest Seventh Rosé or Retriever Red? Not sure? Hm. Guess you'll just have to come to the festival and try them for yourself.

Is my ticket refundable?

We get it, times are tough and you don't want to lose out on that extra cash. However, due to production costs, we are unable to offer refunds on tickets purchased.

Okay fine, but what should I do with my unused ticket now?

If you know in advance you're no longer able to attend, we recommend listing your ticket for resale with our verified resale platform, Tixel. From there, other fans can purchase your ticket and you'll see the money hit your account once your ticket has been purchased!

I have a friend who wants to use my ticket instead - is that okay?

Most certainly! You can simply gift your ticket to a friend or family member, no need to change the name on the ticket. Just be sure they bring a valid 21+ photo ID for any drinking ticket types.

Oh man - looks like rain in the forecast. Is the festival still on?

The party continues, rain or shine! In the event of inclement weather, we recommend bringing a pop-up tent or umbrellas to keep yourself dry. But hey, once you've had a few glasses of wine and the music gets going, you won't even notice those rain drops! Note: Refunds will not be made for inclement weather. If tickets are not sold out, fans can request in advance to transfer their ticket to the opposite day should they wish.

We're making this a family affair - do my kids need a ticket?

Children aged 17 and under do not need a ticket, and are free to attend! Young adults aged 18-20 must have a ticket to enter the festival grounds. You can find these on the ticketing page under General Admission titled 'Age 18-20 | Non-Drinking'.

Are pets allowed at the festival?

While we normally love to host your four-legged friends, we do not allow pets on site during festivals. Service Animals are always permitted. Please note, the Dog Park is closed Friday-Sunday on festival weekends.

What do you recommend I pack for the festival?

Many attendees love to spend the entire day with us! Items that you are welcome to bring that may make your experience more enjoyable include:

• 10x10 Pop-Up Tent (No larger than 10x10 is permitted.)
• Lawn Chairs / Foldable Seating
• Picnic Blankets
• Cooler Backpack or Small Rolling Coolers (All coolers will be searched at the entry gates.)
• Factory Sealed Non-Alcoholic Beverages, including water bottles, soft drinks, juice, and tea
• Snacks or Lunch - We have a ton of food vendors on site! If you prefer to bring your own food, you may do so, as long as nothing is heated with open flame including Sternos.

What is not permitted at the festival?

To keep the guest experience safe and enjoyable, these items/actions are not permitted under any circumstance:

• Outside Alcohol - Under Maryland State Law, absolutely NO outside alcohol may be brought onto the festival grounds. All coolers and bags will be checked upon entry and any outside alcohol found will be confiscated and disposed of.
• Open Flame including Sternos, Bonfires, Candles, etc.
• Firearms or Weapons of any kind
• Unlicensed Vending - Any attendees caught vending products or services outside of our licensed vendors will be removed from the property immediately and no refunds will be issued for their ticket(s).