If you've been to them before, they have not changed at all between last year when they were free and this year when they are paid. The only difference is that there were empty seats at all the ones I went to last weekend.
I would be very reluctant to pay $8 for one of the wine seminars. I would also check what they're serving (you can find out day of) before purchasing tickets for the culinary ones, unless I wanted to see the chef.