March 29, 2024

Sugar Grove provides local entertainment

With the sun setting across the rolling hills of the vineyard on Friday night, many local residents gathered outside a rural grange and enjoyed the colorful summer sky, the company of their loved ones, and the familiar rock and roll songs played by the rock band Slipstream.

More than 150 people attended the second concert of the summer at the Sugar Grove Vineyard & Gathering Place, located just three miles west of the Valle Drive-In. Many of them set out their lawn chairs, purchased bottles of wine and beer, and visited with friends and family.

Colette Hill and her husband, Steve, are owners of the 125-acre farm and they enjoy sharing the scenery because it provides joy to many others.

“It’s a place where people can come and connect with each other and celebrate,” Colette said. “It’s a beautiful space that turned out to be a very peaceful setting too.”

Colette also expressed her long-time passion for hospitality and making others feel happy.

Newton resident, Marcia Graber, who attended the concert with friends, enjoyed the scenery and wonderful wine.

“Sunsets at Sugar Grove are truly gorgeous, with the beautiful grounds and incredible setting,” she said. “My friend and I bought and shared a bottle of wine. The wine we chose was Red, White & Blue from Tassle Ridge. It was amazing, a great wine to have here on a warm summer evening.”

“Slipstream was also an awesome talent. I left at the end of the evening thinking, ‘This was the best time I’ve had in a long time,’” she later said.

The sunset concert provided a fun evening, as many guest danced to the tunes of Slipstream. From Tom Petty to Patsy Cline or Journey to Adele, the band played classic rock and current rock songs for hours.

Newton resident Jennifer Maki, her husband, Ryan, and other members of their family enjoy going to Sugar Grove on weekends.

“We like the music and we love the atmosphere. We especially love the band Slipstream,” she said.

Ryan agrees about having a good time at the concerts.

“I like being outside with friends, the laid back atmosphere and the music,” he said.

Later this summer, construction will begin on the new addition to the facility, an authentic timber frame barn. The barn will have a capacity of 275 people and is meant as a place for weddings, reunions and other large event gatherings. The project is scheduled to be completed in May of 2014.

There are three more concerts scheduled for the remainder of summer; Slipstream will play again on July 20, Freestyle on July 27, and Flatland Frank & the Flat Cats on Aug. 24. The concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. and go until approximately 9:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic if they choose. Sugar Grove sells area wine, domestic bottles of beer, and food.