Outdoor festivals offer all the merriment of indoor celebrations, but without the constant threat of plummeting ceiling fans. Make merry in the open air with today’s deal to the Houston Wine Fest held September 24–25 from noon until 10 p.m. at Sam Houston Park. Choose between the following options:

• For $22, you get a one-day ticket package to the festival, including admission (a $15 value), a wristband for access to the wine tents and re-entry privileges (a $5 value), a wine guide (a $13 value), an acrylic wine glass (a $12 value), and five complimentary drink tickets (a $45 total value).
• For $30, you get a weekend ticket package to the festival, including all of the above, admission for an extra day (a $15 value), and 10 total complimentary wine tickets (a $60 total value).
  
  

The Houston Wine Fest reels in revelers with a passion for varietals, grapes, bites to eat, and ear-pleasing music from 20 fantastic bands. Drink tickets transform into boozy beverages, in much the same way that friendship bracelets transform into rainbow-colored reminders of summer-camp heartbreak. One ticket unlocks a wine tasting, and 4–6 grant their master a full glass of Grandpa’s cough medicine. Aficionados can peruse more than 200 vintages, including wines from Texas, which take center stage at the festival, whereas samplings from Israel, Australia, and Germany allow visitors a taste of each culture without having to lick any national flags. A commemorative acrylic wine glass cradles favorite vintages while guests nibble on specialty food pairings. After sampling their way through the featured vintages, festival-goers can try their feet at making wine the old-fashioned way. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on both festival days, adventurous wine enthusiasts can don casual clothing, immerse all 10 of their clean piggies in a giant vessel of grapes, and stomp their way to delicious giggle juice.