JOHN DAY — More than 100 people filled the Trowbridge Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds on Friday, May 17, for Grape and Grain, the annual celebration of regional beer and wine sponsored by the Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

With 130 tickets sold, attendance was up substantially from 2023, said Tammy Bremner, the Chamber manager.

“It was much better,” she said. “Attendance this year was about twice what it was last year.”

Proceeds from the event, including $2,300 raised in an auction, will go to support the county’s museums.

This year’s edition of Grape and Grain featured craft beers from 1188 Brewing Co. in John Day, Tiger Town Brewing Co. in Fossil and Side A Brewing in La Grande, plus wines from Copper Belt in Baker City and Los Rocosos in Milton-Freewater, as well as food and other goods from several other local vendors.

S&S Catering prepared a spaghetti dinner, with live music performed by Frank Carlson.

“A new hit was the ring toss,” Bremner said. “That attracted a lot of people.”

The game involved trying to toss a ring around the neck of a wine bottle for prizes including wine, Grant County Greenback and swag from local merchants.

“It was busy all evening,” Bremner said.