The Catalina Wine Mixer Is a Real Thing… And We’re Going!
The 2008 Will Farrell movie, Step Brothers, is based around Will’s character, Brennan, putting together the crème de la crème of all events:
THE CATALINA WINE MIXER!
It’s a seriously BIG deal as you can see in this scene. But despite any doubt, Will somehow pulls it off in perfect Farrell-movie magic, ending with him belting out Andrea Bocelli's classic ballad, “Por ti Volare” with his step-brother John C. Reilly (Dale) on drums, casually peppering the phrase, “Boats n’ Hoes,” into each hook… because why not?
The menagerie of obscure happenings worked, and the outdoor gala on Catalina Island was officially a success.
As is the case with most everything Farrell touches, the movie quickly became a classic… and then a meme, catapulting Catalina onto a global pedestal.
People from all over the world headed to the small island 22 miles off the SoCal coast for the chance to say the movie’s quintessential phrase:
“It’s the fu*#ing Catalina Wine Mixer!”
Low and behold, the island listened, and in 2015 The Original Catalina Wine Mixer was established as an annual event.
Less a fancy wine tasting gala and more a poppin’ beach party with a plethora of wine (15 wineries from up and down the coast, to be exact), the two-day event is held at Catalina’s famous Descanso Beach Club (one of the only beaches in California allowed to serve alcohol).
This year will be The Catalina Wine Mixer’s sixth annual, taking place on Friday and Saturday, September 10th-11th.
Just a short stroll from Avalon’s center, The Catalina Wine Mixer features dancing, food, music, helicopters, and — naturally — a screening of the iconic movie that started it all at Catalina’s equally iconic Avalon Theatre in the Catalina Casino.
For those who are making a weekend of it, Catalina Island Company is offering a VIP package at $369 which includes a Friday evening VIP reception at Island Spa Catalina featuring Laguna Beach’s own 2019/2020 “Artist of the Year” Jason Feddy, followed by the Step Brothers screening, which are also both open to the public. On Saturday, September 11th, (the official day of the event), VIP guests get private lounge access at Catherine’s Terrace, and five wine tasting tickets.
General admission tickets are $79 and include two wine tasting tickets and access to the Saturday event which will feature eight bands and DJ’s throughout the day (12pm-10pm) .
VisitCatalinaIsland.com is also offering lodging packages at two of the most popular hotels in the center of Avalon, the Pavilion Hotel (just 13 steps to the sand!) and Hotel Atwater.
The most popular way to get to Catalina is to board the Catalina Express from Dana Point, Downtown Long Beach, or San Pedro, or take the Catalina Flyer from Newport Beach (round trip fares range from $70-$78 and departures leave throughout the day, with the last ferry coming back to the mainland Saturday night at 11:58pm). If you’d rather come by private boat, contact Avalon Harbor Department for a mooring assignment ASAP as they fill up!
Or, if you’re really trying to get the full Catalina Wine Mixer experience, fly into Catalina’s Airport in the Sky by private plane or helicopter.
However you get there, The Original Catalina Wine Mixer promises to be a one-of-a-kind event, akin to any Will Farrell movie — good attitudes, lots of hilarity, and a total meme-worthy experience.
See you at the Mixer!
Lindsay DeLong is the Editor-in-Chief of Laguna Beach Living. A brand strategist and web designer who specializes in a quick 2-week start-to-finish process, she is well-versed at building brands from the ground up, establishing online identity, and golf carting around Catalina. Reach out to her at lindsay@lagunabeachliving.com or on her personal site, iLikeLindsay.com.
Photos from the 2019 Catalina Wine Mixer, courtesy of Catalina Island Company.