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Great grape stomps

At harvest festivals, compete with your feet.

During harvest time in a vineyard, turning purple has nothing to do with the Minnesota Vikings.

Purple is what you'll be if you get into a wooden tub of grapes and try to turn them into juice with your bare feet. Vineyards don't get their juice that way anymore, but many still offer a grape stomp, and there's nothing goofier to do on an autumn day.

There are prizes for those who extract the most juice and those who show the most "style,'' so wearing a creative costume helps. And some grape stomps feature an "I Love Lucy'' look-alike contest, in tribute to the famous 1956 episode in which the comedienne takes a job in an Italian vineyard and, of course, makes a mess of things.

Most stomps require contestants to pre-register and pay a small fee. Everyone gets to sample wine, eat and listen to live music. Here are this year's stomps.

September

Grape Stomp at Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, Minn. There are stomps Saturday and Sunday at this elegant lakes-area vineyard, plus a Friday barn dance, "I Love Lucy'' look-alike contests, music on four stages and crafts vendors. Sept. 11-13.

Grape Stomp at Glacial Ridge Winery between Spicer and New London in Minnesota's Little Crow lakes country. The festival at this newer vineyard includes a Lucy look-alike contest. Sept. 12.

Grape stomp at Saint Croix Vineyards near Stillwater, Minn., in the St. Croix River Valley. There's music and tours, too. Sept. 12-13.

Grape stomp at Crofut Family Winery in Jordan, Minn., just southwest of Minneapolis. There's music and an Artisan Marketplace, too. Sept. 12-13 and 19-20.

Stomp, Spit and Bob at Cedar Creek Settlement winery in Cedarburg, Wis. This stomp is part of the big Wine & Harvest Festival in this picturesque town just north of Milwaukee. There are adult and kids' stomps, plus grape-spitting and apple-bobbing contests, with prizes awarded to winners. Sept. 19-20.

Fall Harvest Festival at Chateau St. Croix just north of St. Croix Falls, Wis., with a grape stomp plus barrel-racing, grape-spitting, carriage rides and a medallion hunt. Sept. 19-20.

Wet Whistle Wine Festival at Von Stiehl Winery, along Lake Michigan in Algoma, Wis. There's a celebrity stomp-off, plus music and a fine-art show. Sept. 19-20.

Oktoberfest & Pig Roast at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. There are separate grape stomps for children, adults and couples both afternoons (victors determined by crowd cheering), plus barrel races and a grape-spitting contest. The winery includes a restaurant and bed-and-breakfast. Sept. 26-27.

Grape Stomp at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah, in the bluff country of northeast Iowa. Sept. 26.

October

Great Grape Stomp at Morgan Creek Vineyards near New Ulm, Minn. This picturesque vineyard features stomps (prizes for best costume) and entertainment that includes Morris and belly dancing and the Narren of New Ulm.  Food includes Swiss raclette and pizzas from the outdoor wood-fired oven. Oct. 3.

Last updated on September 3, 2009