Get away to Pleasanton and enjoy wine country, food fests, and NorCal Night Market in September

It’s such a great month!  Seriously, September can be one of the best times for a weekend getaway in Pleasanton.

The weather is great, there’s more to do every week and weekend with multiple local events taking place this month. And it’s also the time of year when California’s wineries get to work on new wine. Officially, September is Wine Month for California wineries, and there are additional tours, tastings and dinners throughout the region.

Many of our local wineries and wine shops in town offer special tours and tastings throughout September, celebrating this year’s harvest. To learn more about wineries near The Rose Hotel, contact the Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association or visit their website where there are nearly 40 wineries listed with events for the month, as well as directions and descriptions about the various wines produced in the region.

Those interested in learning more about locally sourced foods also may want to explore the NorCal Night Market at Alameda County’s Fairgrounds on Sept. 20-22, the last event for 2019. Thousands attend the event that features an evening with food, shopping, music, live entertainment, games and more.

The market takes place about three times each year, starting on Memorial Day weekend, again in late July, and winding up the year this weekend with the third and final market for 2019. NorCal is an offshoot from the 626 Night Market that originated several years ago in Orange County. The local market is completing its second year in Pleasanton.

If you’ve not gotten the chance to attend, the market is a glorious mix of community celebration, diversity and foodie heaven with cuisine options ranging from corn on the cob, garlic shrimp, island barbecue Filipino street food, sushi, brisket, jumbo gyros, teriyaki skewers and many more. Check out a full list of vendors here. (By the way, The Rose Hotel is a very short distance away from the fairgrounds!)

And if the foodies are still in need of a fix after the market and after last weekend’s Third Annual Forkful food tasting in downtown, then they get one more chance on Sept. 24 with the annual Lions’ Club Taste of Pleasanton evening.

Tickets are $25 and allow visitors to nibble and taste at 19 participating businesses. The fund-raiser is one of the largest for the civic organization, so everyone’s contributions go to fund local charitable causes.

And that will about wrap up a month that kicked off over Labor Day with the 154th Annual Highland Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Our whole town turned a wee bit Scottish for the weekend as pipes were played, cabers were tossed, and heels were clicked in Highland style.

Coming up:

In October, our town’s annual Ghost Walk (and yes, we do hand out treats to the kiddies); the annual Veterans Day Parade in November; and the annual Hometown Holiday and Parade celebration in December.

The Rose Hotel is a member of the Downtown Pleasanton Association and supports other local businesses here in town because they’re our neighbors – they work with us, teach our children, have coffee with us before the workday begins, and sit beside us in public meetings.

We know our town, and at this time of year, we’re all ready to celebrate a new season in Pleasanton and Northern California.

We’re proud to share our town with visitors, and are ready to make your visit one to remember.