Grape Day Festival
Efrain Pedroza, known online as ThatPolyglot, speaks on San Diego’s KUSI News.
It all began on Bond Burning Day.
The Escondido History Center and Brothers of 6 are proud to announce the 68th Grape Day Festival on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This beloved community tradition features live entertainment, local artisan vendors, delicious food, a wine and beer garden, a kid’s zone, historic displays, animal encounters, and much more!
The Grape Day Festival traces its roots back to 1905, when it began as Bond Burning Day. In the early years of Escondido’s incorporation, the Escondido Land & Town Company struggled to attract new residents due to a lack of reliable water sources. Newcomers often found it difficult to strike water when digging wells on their property. To resolve this, the Escondido Irrigation District was established, issuing $350,000 in bonds to fund the construction of the Bear Valley Dam, later renamed Lake Wohlford.
Efrain Pedroza makes a second appearance on KUSI News alongside the Escondido History Center’s Executive Director, Cynthia Castañeda.
Want wine? Make it at Grape Day Festival.
Many early residents were unable to pay their irrigation taxes, but a compromise allowed landowners to clear their debts by paying just 43% of the amount due. When the community successfully repaid the settled amount, residents gathered at the Lime Street school grounds, now known as Grape Day Park, to ceremonially burn the bonds.
On September 9, 1905, a crowd of 3,000 people watched as the water bonds went up in flames. Beginning in 1908, Escondido residents commemorated the event with an annual celebration that became known as Grape Day, named in honor of the hidden valley’s most important crop. Muscat grapes, in particular, thrived in Escondido’s dry conditions by digging deep into the earth to find water, securing grapes as one of the city’s staple agricultural products.
Today, the Escondido History Center and Brothers of 6 once again join forces to present this historic and community centered festival. Come celebrate North County’s rich history, vibrant community, and, of course, grapes.