Just a couple of weeks remain before the 41st Annual Riverbank Cheese and Wine Exposition takes place in the downtown, slated for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14 and 15. This year, for the fourth year, it will be hosted by the City of Riverbank, working in cooperation with Chris Ricci Presents.

In the past, the festival has been coordinate by the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce – which founded the fall fest – and then it was organized by the Riverbank Rotary Club for eight years before it fell under the auspices of the city.

A recent update provided to the city indicated that more arts and crafts booths are anticipated this year and there will be plenty of food, music and a fun kids area as well as the traditional wine and cheese tasting sessions both days of the festival.

Sponsorships for the Cheese and Wine have shown an increase over last year, noted Ricci in a report to the City Council. The tasting sessions will relocate to the Antigua Event Center this year and there will also be skateboarding demonstrations at the skate park on First Street.

General admission is free; festival hours are Saturday, Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tickets for the wine tastings are $20 in advance; visit riverbankcheeseandwine.org for additional information about the event.