By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

This past weekend, I, along with my husband, Lucas, and the paper’s fearless photographer, Jon Goering, loaded into a car and spent Saturday afternoon visiting Morgan Creek Winery in Harpersville.

Admittedly, I’ve never been to Morgan Creek before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sometimes when reporters drive out to cover an event, very few people come to participate. It’s just the way communities work, the ebb and flow of activity. On Saturday, however, I was pleasantly surprised.

The annual Morgan Creek Winery Grape Stomp attracted more than its fair share of visitors. I spoke to people from Sylacauga and Huntsville, while a Harpersville police officer said he saw more than a few people from other southern states. The fact that the weather was perfect — sunny with just the right breeze — didn’t hurt attendance either, I’m sure.

My husband wandered toward the wine tasting tent, while Jon and I headed off to complete our photography duties.

With such a great atmosphere, people were in high spirits, which, of course, may have been due to the drinking of wine.

The grape-stomping booth had children and adults squealing and grimacing as they stepped into the barrels of freshly picked grapes.

One mother was holding her infant daughter, whose feet were dyed purple after she pressed them into a souvenir paper announcing her participation in the stomp.

The Lucille Ball lookalike contest, I have to say, held the most fun. “Lucys” of every shape and size grape stomped on stage as they attempted to garner cheers from onlookers. A Lucy in a bright purple dress and red glasses danced a vigorous jig in her grape-filled barrel. A more dignified Lucy, complete with blue-and-white spotted dress and burnt orange wig, took the $100 grand prize to win the contest.

The grape stomp at Morgan Creek was such a testimony to small-town communities. Adults and children alike were having an absolute ball.

Where else but in rural Alabama can you stomp grapes with hundreds of your closest friends and neighbors?

Christine Boatwright is a staff writer for the Shelby County Reporter. She can be reached at 669-3131 ext. 16 or by email at christine.boatwright@shelbycountyreporter.com.