Laurita Winery is swapping its usual rows of vines for tiki torches and tropical flair this weekend, as the Luau Festival returns to the New Egypt vineyard for a two day celebration running Saturday, August 22nd, and Sunday, August 23rd. Gates open at noon both days, and the weekend closes out Saturday night with a fireworks display lighting up the vineyard sky.

Hula, Fire Knives, and a Full Weekend of Shows

The festival’s centerpiece is a genuinely immersive Polynesian cultural showcase from the South Pacific Island Dancers, blending traditional Hawaiian hula with the kind of high energy Samoan fire knife performance that tends to stop an entire crowd mid conversation. The troupe performs multiple full sets across both days, giving visitors several chances to catch a show no matter when they arrive.

Between performances, a live DJ keeps island themed music running across the grounds, giving the festival a continuous party atmosphere rather than long dead stretches between the scheduled shows.

A Genuinely Loaded Food Truck Lineup

Laurita has pulled together a wide ranging tropical inspired food truck roster for the weekend, pairing island flavors with the winery’s own award winning wines, sangrias, and themed specialty drinks.

That lineup gives visitors a genuinely varied set of options across a single afternoon, from Maine lobster rolls and Filipino barbecue to wood fired pizza and dedicated dessert offerings, letting a full family graze across multiple cuisines without ever leaving the festival grounds.

More Than Just the Main Stage

General admission covers considerably more than the shows and the food. Complimentary vineyard wagon tours give visitors a chance to see Laurita’s actual growing rows up close, while a local artisan marketplace runs throughout the weekend for anyone looking to shop between performances. Families with kids get a dedicated play area, balloon and face painting artists, and lawn games including corn hole spread across the main grounds, rounding the festival out into a genuine all ages event rather than one built purely around the adult crowd sipping wine near the main stage.

What It Costs to Get In

Advance tickets run 15 dollars per person online, rising to 20 dollars for anyone purchasing after 6 p.m. the evening before or buying at the gate as a walk-in. Guests under 21 are admitted free both days. Adult tickets include free parking, access to all live entertainment, the vineyard wagon tours, and a souvenir Laurita wine glass to take home, giving grown-up attendees a tangible keepsake from the weekend alongside everything else included in the price of admission.