Wine festival tickets on sale

Tickets for the 24th Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, which will be held Sept. 29-30, are available online and at a number of outlets. One of the lake's signature events, the festival again will be held at LakeWatch Plantation in Moneta, directly off of Virginia 122, about a mile south of Hales Ford Bridge.

This year, 27 Virginia wineries will be participating, as well as 85 juried craft and food vendors. Four live bands will entertain festival-goers. Polychrome and Dragonfly will play on Saturday, and Sunday's festivities will feature Blue Mule and Fat Daddy.

The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event, is offering tickets via PayPal at smlwinefestival.com. Online tickets are also available at visitsmithmountainlake.com by clicking on "2012 Wine Festival Tickets."

Advance tickets are available at a discount through Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. at all ticket outlets. Tickets are $20 for tasters and $25 at the gate. Designated drivers' tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate.

Proceeds from the festival benefit the SML Regional Chamber.

Tickets are available for pickup at the Smith Mountain Lake Visitors Center at Bridgewater Plaza and at the following outlets:

A Shade Brighter, Moneta

Bedford Visitor Center, Bedford

Premier Limousine, Lynchburg

Laker Beverage & Tobacco, Moneta

Mariners Landing, Huddleston

Bernard's Landing, Moneta

Moneta Farm Service, Moneta

Hickory Hill Vineyard, Moneta

Diamond Hill Store, Moneta

The General Store, Moneta