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PrintVintage Festival names winners
NEIL SHEPARD took top prize in the non-motorized category at the Vintage Festival’s parade with his “Grand Marshal” wagon.
Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune
Valley residents were honored for everything from an ability to quickly crush grapes with the toes to decorating skills using Christmas lights and other glowing objects during the 115th annual Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, which took place last weekend.
In the first-ever nighttime parade, which boasted the theme “Get Your Glow On,” Golly McGinty Realty took first prize for its “Old Friends” float. The Sonoma Girl Scouts came in second in the float division.
Brocco’s Old Barn impressed in the motorized division, while the Butterfly Fund came in second place. In the non-motorized category, “Grand Marshal” Neil Shepard took top prize.
In the mounted division, the color guard of “Americas 500” earned first place, with second prize going to the Rancho Los Naranjos’ “The Dancing Horses.” In the walking division, top prize went to the Moon Magic Statues while the Sonoma Valley High School Gay Straight Alliance took second place.
In the first-ever corporate grape stomp, teams fought it out in pits of grapes to earn the right to give funds to the charity of their choice.
First place went to “The Italians” of Mike Brocco and Sal Troia of M. Brocco’s and Sons Inc., who designated $1,000 to Hospice By The Bay.
Second place was “The Mad Rhones” of Madrone Vineyard Management, comprised of Isaac Jenkins and J.T. Greigg, who gifted $750 to the Sonoma Junior Dragons. Third place went to the Robledo Family Winery team of Luis Robledo and Casey Kalogiannis, who donated $500 to the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance. Fourth place went to the Native Sons of the Golden West, comprised of Allen Baird and Ron Brocco, who gave $250 to the Native Sons of the Golden West’s California Historical Preservation fund.
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Congrats to the wagon team! I love responsible horsemanship this team demonstrated. I would like to mention that the second place Dancing horses, were indeed impressive, there was a HUGE problem unnoticed by many. The first group of three horses presented had a bay horse in the middle. This horse was very unsound. In fact when asked to examine the horses lame front hoof, the horse fell to his knees in pain when asked to put all his weight on it. The rider was advised, he made up a very sad excuse and dismissed the horses injury. An investigation has been ordered and hopefully this poor horse won't be asked to dance again until he is sound to do so.
My family and I enjoyed the evening parade very much, but I have to express how nervous I was with two of the parade entries. One was the man driving his army jeep with his feet while sitting on top of the driver's seat, and the other was the horse and wagon that attempted to circle around in the middle of the street with a wagon full of people (children sitting in front row on the street below to observe). Something terrible could have gone wrong! Seems like poor judgement to me to try to pull off stunts like those...perhaps after partaking in the park festivities all day??