Wine, music, food…and more wine! The annual wine harvest--"The Crush"-is celebrated in Old Town at this festival. For this festival Wells Street undergoes a transformation from a busy urban thoroughfare to a European-style open market featuring wine pavilions representing more than 50-different wines. Tents are set up with wine-tasting tables inside where you can try all these wines.

Wines from both domestic vineyards as well as those from France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Chile and other wine-producing nations are served. Hess, Niebaum Coppola, Ravenswood, Cosentino, and Banfi are some of the featured wineries. Be prepared to wait because the tents get crowded at peak times. Actually, when we went we decided against the tasting and opted to buy beer so we didn't have to deal with the long lines.

Wells Street (Old Town) is known for its unique retail shops and for some of Chicago finest restaurant. The famed Second City resides on Wells Street. Part of this unique event, food pavilions will be serving the cuisine of popular neighborhood eateries while guests enjoy live entertainment, arts a crafts, and wine-making demonstrations. A stage is set up on the South side of Wells Street where a variety of bands play throughout the day.

Tickets are $5 and for an additional $10, you can purchase a special souvenir wine tasting glass to sample the wines. Whether you are an expert wine connoisseur or interested novice, you will have a blast taking part in this seasonal celebration and tasting wines from renowned domestic and international vineyards. And if like us you come later in the evening when it's too crowded to get at the wines, you will still have a nice time wandering through the shops of Old Town and listening to the bands. All proceeds benefit the Y-ME Breast Cancer Organization and the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association.

To get there ride the Brown Line "L" to Sedgwick and head east down North Avenue to Wells street.