If you can’t make it to Tuscany for this year’s harvest season, head to Southern California’s The Resort at Pelican Hill for a taste of Italy. Paying homage to the motherland, and taking advantage of Pelican Hill’s 750 mature olive trees, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort celebrates the season with a three-day festival. While the annual event usually incorporates olive pressing — turning resort-grown olives into a signature olive oil — this year’s shortage of Pelican Hill olives means pressing will be limited to a demonstration.
But that won’t stop the Newport Coast resort from celebrating. Festa dell’Autunno kicks off tonight with an alfresco dining experience exclusively for resort guests. Saturday brings a traditional Italian street party from noon to 5 p.m., where you can enjoy wine, cheese and olive oil tasting, cooking exhibitions, street painting and more entertainment.
While the family-style dinner on Saturday night and the mimosa jazz brunch on Sunday are also reserved for guests, locals and non-resort guests can enjoy harvest season activities throughout November. Don’t miss the Art & Olives tours to discover the resort’s plein air painting collection, Palladian architecture and, yes, the picturesque olive trees. The tour is offered on Fridays at 4 p.m. through the end of the month.
In order to make the most of this weekend’s Italianesque celebration, though, swiftly book one of the packages The Resort at Pelican Hill is offering. Whether you check into a Tuscan bungalow for the whole weekend or opt for just one night, you’ll gain access to the exclusive events. Packages start at $505 for two guests.
Photo Courtesy of Pelican Hill
