Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival: Insider’s Guide (2025)

For many Smith Mountain Lake locals and visitors, autumn just wouldn’t be complete without the annual SML Wine Festival. Now in its 35th year, the event returns Sept. 27-28 to the picturesque grounds of Bernard’s Landing, offering two full days of sipping, shopping, music and lakeside fun.

Hosted by the nonprofit Hook Lines and Singers, the festival features tastings from Virginia wineries, craft breweries and cideries, plus a variety of food trucks and artisan vendors. With stunning lake views, plenty of room to roam and a relaxed vibe, it’s the perfect setting to celebrate the season.

Beyond the fun, the heart of the SML Wine Festival is its mission to give back. Organizers aim to raise $120,000 this year to support six local nonprofits.

The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, rain or shine. General admission tickets are good for either day, with options for discounted two-day passes and designated drivers. VIP tickets include access to a private lakeside tent with complimentary wine and beer, hors d’oeuvres, shaded seating and upgraded restrooms.

Shuttle service will be available from designated off-site parking areas, and handicap parking will be located closer to the venue.

The festival is keeping its roots in Virginia tradition, featuring an impressive variety of wineries from across the state. While tastings remain a big part of the experience, the event has evolved to offer more flexibility. In addition, several distilleries and cideries will participate this year.

Confirmed so far for 2025 are:

For the most up-to-date list, visit the SML Wine Festival wineries page. To get all the latest updates on the festival, sign up for our email newsletter!

The 2025 SML Wine Festival music lineup is as follows:

• $20 – Non-Drinker / Designated Driver
• $50 – One-day General Admission Taster Ticket
• $90 – Two-day General Admission Taster Ticket
• $150 – One-day VIP (access to VIP lounge area with food, curated wine selection and private restrooms)

Taster tickets include a souvenir wine glass. Tickets can be purchased in advance online (additional service fees apply) or at the gate the day of the event. Parking is free. 

The 2025 Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival is slated for Sept. 27-28. If you can, it’s best to book accommodations right at Bernard’s Landing so you can walk to all the festivities.

On-site condos and nearby homes are expected to book up early for the weekend so be sure to make your arrangements for accommodations ASAP.

Use our powerful interactive map to quickly find and compare Smith Mountain Lake hotels and vacation rental homes and condos.

Yes, the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival is open to all ages. Kids enjoy the expansive lawn, live music and vendors. Children ages 10 and under are admitted free. Older ones (11-17) require a non-taster ticket.

Please note that anyone who plans to drink alcohol will be required to show photo ID. All will be carded regardless of age. That means even if you’re 80, you’ll still be asked to show ID!

One area reserved exclusively for guests 21 and older is the VIP section. While tickets are priced considerably higher, they come with a host of premium perks.

Enjoy access to a private tent—perfect for staying cool or dry—overlooking the festival grounds, along with shaded seating, delicious catered meal and a curated selection of wines from participating wineries, plus beer. VIPs also enjoy upgraded restroom facilities and a prime view of the concert stage.

Yes. Limited boat slips available through the Bernard’s Landing POA. They must be reserved in advance by contacting [email protected].

Only service dogs are allowed at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival.

Yes! This year’s festival will have open space for enjoying the music, and you’re welcome to bring blankets, chairs and up to a 10×10-foot tent at no charge. Tents must be set up in the designated area on a first-come, first-served basis. No larger tents or overnight setups are permitted. It is recommended that you arrive early if you want a spot, and be respectful of others when setting up.

Four parking areas are available, with shuttle buses and golf carts providing easy access. Handicap parking is also be designated closer to the venue. Parking is free.

Yes, the SML Wine Festival is a rain-or-shine event, and tickets are non-refundable. However, your ticket is valid for either day, so we recommend keeping an eye on the forecast and planning accordingly.

While September weather at Smith Mountain Lake is typically beautiful, we’ve attended on less-than-perfect days and still had a blast. Smaller crowds often mean shorter lines and a more relaxed experience overall.

According to Tim Reith, executive director of the nonprofit Hook Lines and Singers, which organizes the wine festival and the SML Songwriters Festival each spring, the spirit of giving remains at the core of the festival with Hook Lines and Singers aiming to donate $120,000 to six area nonprofits.

This year’s beneficiaries include SML Good Neighbors, Healing Strides of Virginia, the Franklin County YMCA, Lake Christian Ministries, American Legion Post 62 and SML Marine Fire and Rescue

Contrary to popular belief, Bernard’s is not the original home of the SML Wine Festival. That distinction goes to the former Manor at Taylor’s Store B&B off of Virginia 122 near Burnt Chimney, which hosted the first three events starting in 1989.

However, Bernard’s Landing, a beloved venue from 1992 to 2007, was where the SML Wine Festival truly flourished, growing under the direction of the SML Regional Chamber of Commerce to become the lake’s largest and most popular event.

Other locations for the event have included LakeWatch Plantation, Crazy Horse Marina (now Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater) and Mariners Landing. The festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic.

Watch our video with Hook Lines and Singers’ director Tim Reith about the 2023 SML Wine Festival featuring live music with Morgan Myles.