By TR Robertson Photos by Brian Robertson and Golnessa Shali
Hundreds of beer, mead, and wine enthusiasts filled the walkways of Vista’s Alta Vista Botanical Garden on Saturday, taking part in the 11th Annual Novemberfest, sponsored by Amigos de Vista Lions Club and Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. The event began at noon sharp, with people lined up at the entrance to The Gardens as they checked in with their tickets and obtained their drinking glasses, sponsored by Alta Vista Botanical Gardens and Cocina Del Carmen Oaxacan Cuisine. A table was set up nearby with Mary Murphy and Nancy B. Jones were selling tickets for the Raffle drawing. Walking the paved road leading into The Gardens, visitors began to see a number of tents set up by the various breweries and meaderies as well as a number of other vendors. The breweries, meaderies and wineries in attendance poured several selections from their establishments and spoke about their businesses as well. Several first-time attendees were pouring their selections for the numerous patrons at their tent.
There were nine breweries, seven meaderies, two wineries, 1 Kombucha, and 1 spirits business in attendance for the Novemberfest. Along with these 8 other vendors and 5 eating establishments sold their products and provided a variety of food choices. The breweries at the 2025 event included Arcana Brewing, Artifex Brewing, Society of Barley Engineers, Bear Roots Brewing, Dogleg Brewery, Inzane Brewing, North County Home Brewers, Prey Brewing, and National Homebrew Club QUAFF. The meaderies in attendance included Blue Honey Mead and Wine, Hidden Hive, Raging Cider, Twisted Horn Witch’s Brew, Humboldt Cider and Wild West Mead. Dr. Boocharts Healthy & Hard Kombucha and 117 West Spirits served other drink selections. There was a charge for tastings at 117 West Spirits. The two vineyards attending were Burtech Family Vineyards and Coomber Wines of Vista.
The vendors selling their products were Black Hat Breads, Natural Leaven Sourdough Bakery, Butterfly Brittle, Enroute Restoration, Party Pop Popcorn, SoRich Chocolates, Sugar Bees, Sunfire Hot Sauce, The Odd Egg, TMR Signs & Graphics, and Tree to Table Charcuterie Boards. Located in the Ivy Bodin Reception Rose Garden were the food vendors, tables, and chairs for those purchasing food to sit and take a break. These included Chili Madness, Sticky Chicken, Best Pizza & Brew, Cocina Del Carmen, and Amigos de Vista Lions Club, with volunteers cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. As you entered this area, Mos Have Photos, manned by Josh Olmos, was set up, offering free photos as memories of the event.
The Alta Vista Garden Shop was open, selling a variety of items, including turtle food to feed all the turtles in the pond by the Ceremonial Garden. In this part of The Garden, there were several breweries highlighted by several homebrewer’s organizations offering a variety of drink selections. In this part of the event, music was provided by the popular Night Owls band. Several people took part in dancing to the music. Carl Tucker, Marti Tucker, and Charmaine Reed said they like the band and enjoyed dancing to their music. Located close by some great Raffle prizes were on display. Tickets were on sale for the Raffle drawing.
As the afternoon moved along, the crowd grew and the lines at the brewery and Meadery tents grew longer as well. Novemberfest is a very popular Vista attraction and a perfect way to begin the November and December holiday season. In speaking with several of the event organizers, Rusti and Erik Dixon from Alta Vista Botanical Gardens, they were excited about the continued growth and popularity of Novemberfest.
Proceeds from Novemberfest go to both the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens and the Amigos De Vista Lions Club. Amigos De Vista meets at the Vista Village Pub, 224 Main Street – Vista, on the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month at noon. The club helps the San Diego Center for the Blind as well as scholarship programs for local high school seniors and many other programs. Both the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens and the Amigos De Vista Lions Club are tremendous local organizations that do a lot to support numerous functions throughout the year. For info on both groups go to AmigosDeVistaLionsClub@gmail.com or www.altavistabotanicalgardens.org .
