Attend the Foothills Celebration on March 2 for food & wine galore

THE FOOTHILLS CELEBRATION on Saturday, March 2, now in its 12th year, is an ideal time to taste the foothills’ wines while strolling the streets of historic Grass Valley.

Sip from more than 30 wineries, while sampling hand-crafted delicacies from about 25 local eateries, featuring favorite nibbles from their menus.

One of the more decadent offerings—strawberries dipped in chocolate from a fountain.

Visit shops including art galleries, chocolatiers, home design stores, clothing boutiques and antique emporiums in the historic district.

Attend the Foothills Celebration as part of a weekend getaway. Packages are available for out-of-town guests at the Gold Miners Inn/Holiday Inn Express & Suites and the Grass Valley Courtyard Suites.

Tour the historic Empire Mine or experience some of Grass Valley’s nightlife with talented local musicians, while enjoying any one of the fabulous eateries.

Foothill Celebration, from 1- 4 p.m., begins at the Gold Miners Inn, where you’ll pick up your food tickets and tasting glasses.

From there, enjoy the foods, wines, music, art and shopping throughout downtown Grass Valley. To purchase tickets in advance ($30 before February 23; $40 afterward), visit any downtown tasting room, contact the Grass Valley Downtown Association at 530-272-8315 or visit SierraVintners.com.

The event routinely sells out, so plan your trip early.

Gold Country Getaway

Grass Valley reflects the resurgence of American small towns. It is an ideal home base for exploring the Gold Country.

Compared with most foothill towns, there is a wider range of lodging options, including deluxe hotels, motels and B&Bs; restaurants that focus on fresh local food; and charming shops and galleries.

The Gold Rush town is the hub of the growing Sierra Vintners wine region, where you can meet the winemakers.

Grass Valley has a host of museums to explore the region’s past. There’s the Northstar Mine Powerhouse, Pelton Wheel Museum, and Empire Mine State Historic Park.

South Yuba River State Park offers hiking, docent-led history and nature tours, gold panning and beautiful wildflowers in the spring.

For more information, visit HistoricGrassValley.com, SierraVintners.com and GoNevadaCounty.com.

(Photo credit: Kial James)