Some say 13 is an unlucky number. In Old Town La Verne, they'd beg to differ.

The "Sip of La Verne" Wine Walk returns for its 13th year on Saturday, April 18, and if history is any guide, the only bad luck would be waiting too long to buy your ticket. Early bird pricing ends at midnight April 11. Get your tickets now!

The event, hosted by the Old Town La Verne Business Association, has sold out nearly every year since La Verne resident Craig Walters, the Business Association's president, launched it with 500 tickets and an ambitious idea. Today, it draws up to 1,000 guests through the historic streets of Old Town, wine glasses in hand, rediscovering the shops, flavors, and neighbors that make this community special.

The Wine Walk survived its one true test of bad luck in 2020, when COVID-19 forced a cancellation—the only interruption in the event's 13-year history. It came back swinging. "It's the community that built the wine walk," said Walters. And the community, it turns out, was ready and waiting.

The format that keeps guests coming back is simple and generous. At check-in, each guest receives an embossed commemorative wine glass, a wristband, and 12 two-ounce tasting tickets, roughly equivalent to a full bottle of wine. A map guides attendees to approximately 20 tasting locations throughout Old Town, noting which wines are being poured at each stop and which local restaurant is providing the food pairing.

Guests can expect to encounter about 66 different wine varieties throughout the evening—reds, whites, sparklings, rosés, and dessert wines—all selected by Third Street Wine Shop. Co-owner Veronica Hazen said the selection process involves more than just pairing wines with the food; they also factor in the personality of each participating business. "The spa is going to get a different wine than the insurance company," Hazen explained.

For many attendees, the Wine Walk has become more than a night out, it's how they've come to know their own community. La Verne resident Sierra McCain has attended twice and said the experience opened doors she never expected. "We're able to go to each business that we don't normally go to and kind of see what they do," she said, adding that shop owners often share information about discount days and specials, giving a good reason to return to their shops. "It’s a good way to get that small-town feel,” she said.

That small-town feel has had a real, lasting impact. "I think it helps bring people together," McCain said. "I actually found my hairdresser through the wine walk." She said she wouldn’t have discovered Studio M for Beauty on her own, but a chance meeting with the stylist during the event changed her routine. "I was like, she's wonderful. I'll go get my haircut here. And I've been getting my haircut there ever since."

It's exactly the kind of connection Walters designed the event to spark. "You can walk into any of these shops and talk to the owner, get to know the people who are providing good services, and it's a great way to be part of the community," he said.

"The wine walk is a great way to experience Old Town La Verne," Hazen added.

Food is a point of pride as well. Micky Rehm, co-owner of Micky's Jewelry, said quality sets this event apart from others. "Every year, people tell us, ‘We want to come to this wine walk because you guys have the best wine and the best food,’" Rehm said—and like Swearington, she's seen casual wine walk visitors become loyal, year-round customers.

For Will Fuelling, co-owner of The Corner Butcher Shop in La Verne, the wine walk offers a chance to offer a little more than they would at a larger tasting event. Unlike events where vendors serve smaller samples to big crowds all in one space, the wine walk brings people in and out of individual businesses, and that dynamic, Fuelling said, raises everyone's game.

"It's a more intimate, a little bit nicer event," Fuelling said. "And it works better to promote both the event and the businesses."

Live music from six to eight outdoor bands adds to the festive atmosphere, while safety infrastructure keeps the evening running smoothly. La Verne Police provide security, ABC permits are secured for every location, and non-alcoholic designated driver tickets are available.

Realtor Lori Alvarez said the event captures something bigger than one city. "It really brings all our Foothills cities together," she said. "We're such a shared community, and it's just fun to see all the people just enjoying each other."

This year, a portion of ticket proceeds benefits the La Verne Historical Society, connecting a fun evening out to the preservation of the City's longer story.

Thirteen years. Zero plans to stop.