Winery festival kicks off summer offerings
Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, June 17, 2025
All the vendors in attendance at the Kick Off Summer Festival were local to the Crenshaw County area.
All the vendors in attendance at the Kick Off Summer Festival were local to the Crenshaw County area.
Inside of the winery, there were different flavors of wine slushies sold for the adults in attendance.
Inside of the winery’s store, Andrea Bailey (left), Tonya Pippin (middle) and Wyatt Pippin (right) offer drinks, pizzas, wine and non-alcoholic slushies to attendees.
Madi Boley (left) and Cherry Jackson (right) from Grit and Grind Enterprise sell coffee and refreshers at the South Ridge Winery for the Kick Off Summer Arts and Craft Festival.
Southern Pawz owner Tina Stirkens attends the South Ridge Winery Festival, selling homemade natural dog treats, shampoo and pet balm.
Kevin Swindle offers selling freeze dried candies for The Candied Siren at the Kick Off Summer Arts and Craft Festival.
South Ridge Winery invited Crenshaw County residents and vendors to come together for their Kick Off Summer Arts and Craft Festival held Saturday, June 7.
The fifth annual festival, organized by South Ridge Winery co-owners Matthew and Tonya Pippin, was home to a wide variety of vendors for attendees to visit.
“That’s how we got started with it; we just wanted to do something that included everybody that wanted to be a part of it…” Matthew Pippin said. “[The vendors are] like us, they’re just all small businesses that are trying to get started or make part of their living from the craft that they do. We’re the little guys too; we’re not this huge facility here… We get a lot of enjoyment out of showcasing these [vendors].”
For the price of $5, attendees were able to peruse through the different vendors and view their wares. All the vendors were local to the Crenshaw County area, selling items like fishing lures, homemade crafts, clothes and more.
One local business, Southern Pawz from Luverne, returned to the winery for the second time, selling some of the items they have in their store. Owner Tina Stirkens was there under a tent offering homemade natural pet treats, pet balm and more.
“I love it; you get a chance to see other people, support other people [all] while getting your name out there too,” Stirkens said. “I try to go around and buy stuff from others to help support them, and you get to meet people from other places too and support them.”
Inside of the winery’s shop, staff members sold the winery’s own products: wines, jellies and other items. The winery also offered pizzas, glasses of wine and wine slushies to attendees.
Additionally, some vendors had edible goods available, like the Candied Siren, which sold freeze-dried candies and fruits, and Grit and Grind, which had coffees and refreshers on site.
“We couldn’t do this without family and friends that help us out, and we are appreciative of them,” said Tonya Pippin, “Thank you to the community for coming out and supporting us.”
