Special Labor Day Weekend Service to the Wine Festival

Passengers Urged to Purchase Tickets On-Line

(Bernalillo, NM-August 26, 2009)- For the fourth year, visitors to the New Mexico Wine Festival will have another transportation alternative to get to the wildly popular affair. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is once again offering special train service over the upcoming long Labor Day weekend. And just as in years past, people taking the train can catch a free shuttle bus from the U.S. 550/Sandoval County station to the festival, or they can opt to take a short walk from the station to the annual event. 

“For the past three years, the Rail Runner connection to the Wine Festival has been a tremendous success”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “Lots of people take advantage of the opportunity to avoid the traffic and parking hassles, and we expect record numbers to take the train to the Festival again this.” 

The 22^nd Annual New Mexico Wine Festival will be held in the Town of Bernalillo over Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, September 5^th, Sunday, September 6^th, and Monday, September 7^th.  Wine Festival hours are noon to 7:00p.m. daily.

See the Labor Day Weekend Schedule

Celebrating its 22^nd year, the New Mexico Wine Festival attracts more than 20,000 people. 20 wineries from across the state offer up free tastings and sales by the glass, as well as the purchase of bottles and cases for home consumption. There’s also a variety of food vendors, live entertainment, and a juried art show. Once again, the festival also showcases some of New Mexico’s finest agriculture. There is even a dedicated area for kids called the “Kid’s Zone”.

”The New Mexico Wine Festival is the premier wine event of the Southwest”, says Ida Fierro, Executive Director, NM Wine Festival. “More and more people come out to the festival each year, because it’s a local event. Being able to offer Rail Runner service to get them here is a big plus.”

“It’s great that the Rail Runner can be used for special events like the New Mexico Wine Festival”, says Bernalillo Mayor Patricia A. Chávez. “Venues like this really serve to connect the region by bringing people together and increasing tourism in the middle valley”, adds Mayor Chávez.

 Like last year festival-goers can avoid the lines and purchase their Rail Runner tickets in advance on-line at www.nmrailrunner.com. All they have to remember when purchasing tickets for any of the three days is that they need to select the “Saturday Day Pass”, “Sunday Day Pass”, or “Labor Day Pass” option in order to get the reduced weekend fare. NM Wine Festival tickets can also be purchased in advance on-line at www.newmexicowinefestival.com

***REMINDER*** Regular Rail Runner Sunday service begins Sunday, September 13th

Contacts: 

• Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov
• S.U. Mahesh, NM Department of Transportation (505) 490-0976

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