By Nicole Hamel
On the Scene: Foot Stomping Fun at Lakeridge Winery’s Harvest Fest
A little rain couldn’t dampen the fun at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards‘ annual Harvest Festival, held Aug. 21-23 in Clermont. Crowds came ready to kick off their shoes for the grape-stomping competition, browse vendors offering plants, crafts and delicious food, and, most of all, sample Lakeridge’s signature wines.
Winery tours, dancing and live music kept the celebration going throughout the festival, with something for guests of all ages. Despite the weather, the annual Harvest Festival proved to be a fun-filled celebration of the season and the local community.
Nicole, born and raised in Maine, is an award-winning photographer with more than 15 years of professional experience. After relocating to Kentucky, she began her career photographing military families and volunteering with several organizations, including Operation Homefront (Tennessee/Kentucky Chapter), the American Red Cross, and the Wounded Warriors Project. While living in Hawaii, Nicole worked as a historical photographer, documenting the Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam community and its surrounding areas. In 2015, Nicole settled in Florida and joined Akers Media Group as a freelance photographer.
Through dedication and consistent excellence, she advanced to Chief Photographer. Her contributions earned her MVP of the Year in 2020 and Employee of the Year in 2023, recognizing both her hard work and commitment to her craft. After eight years of working for Akers, she can now add published writer to her list of accomplishments. Outside of her professional work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her two children, Dylan and Olivia. Her interests include underwater photography, crafting, reading, gardening, traveling, and experiencing life firsthand.
