JANESVILLE — Onlookers cheered and cars honked in support of a group of Janesville women who donned inflatable costumes for downtown Janesville’s Fall Wine Walk on Saturday.
Amy Nunn, Tara Avery, Erin Cummings, and Danielle Heis strolled down North Main Street together as characters riding a duck, a velociraptor, a skeleton flamingo, and a pink flamingo.
They quickly became the center of attention with requests to take pictures with them.
The four women said they had dressed up together once before for a birthday party and really enjoyed it. Nunn said she thought it would be “extra fun and special†to dress up for the Wine Walk.
Local nonprofit Downtown Janesville Inc. invests Wine Walk proceeds into promoting downtown Janesville including decorating it for the holidays, and supporting events like Music at the Marv, the Janesville Farmers Market, and Night on Festival.
Nearly twenty shops participated in the Saturday afternoon event, including Adorn Boutique, The Sugar Exchange, and Papa Doc’s Axe Throwing and others. A full list of participating businesses is on the Janesville Walk Wine website.
Participants were given a wine cup, a wristband, and a gift bag and sampled snacks and wine as they visited businesses downtown walking or via trolley.
There were finger foods to try at local restaurants Genisa Wine Bar, 808 Cheesecake, Sandwich Bar, 808 Poke, and Drafthouse.
Derek and Jean Lippert were trying the Italian meatballs at Genisa with friends Susan and Jason Howard. The foursome said they had already sampled a variety of wines and were having a great time exploring downtown.
Genisa Wine Bar line cook Gunner Tripp serves Italian meatballs during the Downtown Janesville Fall Wine Walk on Saturday, Oct. 14, to Jason Howard, Susan Howard, and Derek Lippert.
“It’s the perfect time to visit all the shops and find out where you’re going to do your Christmas shopping,†Jean Lippert said.
They could head from there, via a 5-minute walk over the East Milwaukee Street bridge, to 808 Cheesecake to sample wine infused cheesecake.
With wine sourced from Timber Hill Winery in Milton, 808 Cheesecake offered visitors bite-sized cheesecake samples with flavors including Sassy Saturday Sangria and Throwback Thursday, a grape flavor.
Behind them in the alley, guests ate seafood salad from 808 Poke while admiring the colorful bird mural completed by Chicago painter, CJ Hungerman, during this year’s Art Infusion.
General tickets to the Fall Wine Walk were $40 while VIP admission was $65, with all tickets sold out.
VIP holders began the afternoon with lunch at Genisa Wine Bar and then had early access to wine pouring and shopping starting at 12 p.m.
Luke Wagner and Sara Strehlow, who recently moved to Janesville from the Madison area, said they were participating in the event to learn more about Janesville. They browsed through the plants at Garden of Eaton, 6 S. Main St., while sipping Hook or Crook Cellars reserve chardonnay from Lodi, Calif.
“This is the perfect event for people new to the Janesville area,†Strehlow said.
Just down the street, 30 people lined up from the counter past the door at Glass Garden, 25 W. Milwaukee St., to select a free glass pendent and try Southeastern Australian Ayana moscato. Mequon residents Lauren and Michael Decker laughed with a group of friends while sifting through colorful pendants and enjoying their first Wine Walk.
Michael and Lauren Decker of Mequon sample Southeastern Australian Ayana moscato while looking through glass pendants at Glass Garden, 25 W. Milwaukee St., during the Downtown Janesville Fall Wine Walk on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
Also enjoying a first on Saturday was Becka Freed, who poured for the Wine Walk during the grand opening of her shop, Mood, 19 N. Main St. The shop sells unique greeting cards, gifts, and stationery.
Becky Wagner, owner of Chloe & Claire Boutique at the Old Towne Mall, 20 S. Main St., wasn’t officially part of the Wine Walk but marked the occasion anyway with a special sales event. Chloe & Claire Boutique started out as a pop-up in the Olde Towne Mall, and expanded into a shop there on Oct. 12, making this Wagner’s first full weekend in business.
“As a new boutique, the exposure from Fall Wine Walk has been absolutely amazing,†Wagner said.
Presenting sponsor Craig Kjendle Builders LLC was joined in supporting the Fall Wine Walk by TDS Fiber, Mainstream Boutique, RH Batterman & Company, Downtown Janesville Business Improvement District, Steve Caya Attorney at Law, Festival Foods, A Glo Spa & Salon, Angus-Young and Big Radio.
Kerri Harold, of TDS Fiber Janesville, provided participants with wine horoscopes and a chance to win a Coach purse at a booth in the Olde Towne Mall. “TDS Fiber sponsors a lot of events here including Music at the Marv, Wine Walks, and Night on Festival,†Harold said. “It feels great to support downtown Janesville.â€
The Wine Walk sells out every year, with 600 tickets sold this year, Genisa Wine Bar General Manager Joshua Pickering said.
“It’s a great event,†Pickering said. “It helps make the community a beautiful place.â€
The Wine Walk happens in the spring and the fall. A spring 2024 date has not yet been announced.