The new Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto has a lot more to offer than its predecessor, including more restaurants, more gaming space, a hotel and a pool, and now it can add two new events to that list: an Oktoberfest and a wine festival.
Soboba’s Oktoberfest will happen on Oct. 5 while the Soboba Food and Wine Festival will happen sometime in spring 2020. Food and Beverage Manager Victor Mortazavi already has big plans for both events.
Mortazavi, who has food and beverage experience at resorts in Washington and Nevada, said he has held Oktoberfest and wine events in those locations and he wanted to do something similar at Soboba. He said he hopes both events bring something new to the area.
Oktoberfest will run from 4-9 p.m. and will give guests the opportunity to sample beer from more than 20 breweries, eat German food items and come away with some souvenirs, Mortazavi said. He said tickets for the event, which go on sale Sept. 5, will be $20 if purchased in advance and $30 if purchased at the door.
As part of the entrance fee, guests will get a beer mug as well as $15 worth of tickets that they can put toward $1 beer tastings, $5 mugs of beer, food or souvenirs. If needed, people can purchase additional tickets.
For people who aren’t fans of beer, there will also be a wine garden serving traditional German wines such as riesling and an area serving spirits including Jagermeister and schnapps.
Inside a gift shop set up for the event guests will be able to purchase Oktoberfest costumes, hats, salt and pepper shakers and other small porcelain items.
The food menu includes German favorites such as schnitzel, jaegerschnitzel, bratwurst, frankfurters, sauerbrauten, currywurst and gingerbread cookie hearts.
A German polka band will provide the entertainment as guests drink, shop and eat.
Mortazavi has a different plan for the springtime wine festival with a focus on the pace of the event.
“Here, you have the whole experience of pairing and enjoying,” Mortazavi said. “There’s no pushing, no shoving, you get to the wine station and we don’t run out, we have the product, and there is no rush; we can enjoy food, wine and entertainment in the same place.”
More than 200 varieties of wine will be spread out among 10 different stations, the vision includes some unique pairings.
A Champagne and sparkling wine station will serve caviar on one side and french fries on another.
“The reason is to show people how fries go with Champagne or sparkling wine as good as caviar because of the salt,” Mortazavi said.
The wine event will also feature live entertainment, including a pianist, a harpist, a violinist and a cellist.
“It’s going to repeat for hours,” Mortazavi said. “Nonstop entertainment.”
If you go
When: Saturday, Oct. 5.
Where: Soboba Casino Resort, 22777 Soboba Road, San Jacinto
Tickets: $20 in advance, $30 if purchased at the door; tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 5.
Information: 951-665-1356, soboba.com