THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR THE 20TH ANNUAL OKANAGAN FEST-OF-ALE, APRIL 10&11, 2015  

The final countdown is on! We’re counting down the days until beer lovers unite at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre to celebrate the 20^th Annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale. The Okanagan’s long-standing and well-loved festival celebrating everything to do with beer is quickly approaching! It runs on Friday April 10^th from 4-9pm and Saturday April 11^th from 12-6pm and tickets are selling quickly.

 

Ron Dyck, Director with the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale commented, “To celebrate our 20^th Annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, we will have a total of 47 breweries and cideries from across the province and the Pacific Northwest. We’re pretty excited to welcome back some of our favourite breweries and cideries and we’re really stoked to have 15 great first-time breweries and cideries attending this year. There will be over 150 different beers and ciders to try including a selection of exclusive casks made for the festival.” Visit www.FestOfAle.ca to see all of the participating breweries and cideries.

 

There are lots of new things happening this year including the opportunity to celebrate good cheer and great beer both inside and outside! Dyck continued, “This year, we are thrilled to announce that we’ll have an outdoor section. This new outdoor area will feature food trucks, breweries and live entertainment, allowing guests an opportunity to move inside and out and take in different experiences.”

 

If you love the beer you try at the festival, you can now buy some at the pop-up onsite liquor store as you leave. Each brewery will have a selection of their beer available for sale in this special store. Many of the beers featured at the festival are not available for sale at liquor stores in Penticton, so this gives Fest-of-Ale attendees a unique opportunity to purchase their favourite beverages to take home. Sherwood Sports will also have Okanagan Fest-of-Ale merch available for sale featuring the new logo!

 

Also new this year is an opportunity to create a special memory of the 20^th Annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale with a fun and festive photo! Head to the Moments Under Frame Photography photo booth with your friends and put on some crazy props, say cheers and smile!

 

Eleven great local restaurants will be onsite at the event and a number of them will be featuring special food and beer pairings. Watch for Cannery Brewing paired with Brodo Kitchen, Tin Whistle Brewing paired with Mr. Marks Caribbean Foods, Bogner’s of Penticton with BC Tree Fruits Cider and try a Wannawafel made using the beer from Bad Tattoo Brewing.

In between all the eating and beer tasting, you can shake it up on either the inside or outside dance floor. Throughout the weekend, 12 different bands including the Dungbeatles, Cosmic Brew and Great White North will rotate through both stages. Dyck explained, “Some fan favouites are back again and we’re also excited to hear some of the new entertainment that will hit the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale stages for the first time.” Check out the full entertainment line-up at www.FestOfAle.ca and plan your schedule accordingly!

 

Also be sure to take a moment to cast your vote for your favourite beer, food, booth, band and more! Dyck explained, “In addition to our People’s Choice awards, this year, we are also absolutely thrilled to have an esteemed judging panel of 8 craft beer experts who will judge the beer. We’ve got some of the top beer judges coming to determine the best beers in a variety of different beer-style categories and they will also award the Best in Show award for the beer they deem best overall at the festival!”

 

Plan to enjoy the Fest-of-Ale and get back home or to your hotel safely! $2 discount vouchers will be available to all attendees – just provide the voucher to your taxi or shuttle driver for your discount. The Coconut Express will be offering shuttle services to and from the festival. Check out www.TheCoconutExpress.com for more info and pick-up locations throughout Penticton.

 

As anyone following the burgeoning craft beer scene knows, Penticton is a happening place for craft beer lovers. In addition to the main Okanagan Fest-of-Ale events, there are a number of other craft beer events happening before and after the fest. The Copper Mug Pub is doing a cask event on April 8^th, Joe Wiebe, the Thirsty Writer and author of the book the Craft Beer Revolution is doing a Craft Beer Revolution Seminar & Beer Tasting on April 9^th, a book launch party with a “Revolutionary” collaborale cask made by Bad Tattoo Brewing, Cannery Brewing, Firehall Brewery and Tin Whistle Brewing on April 9^th and the Kettle Valley Station Pub is holding their annual Murderers Row Cask event on April 11^th. Check out www.FestOfAle.ca for a full schedule of additional activities happening in Penticton.

 

Dyck concluded, “Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast or a craft brew newcomer there is something for everyone at our 20^th Annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale. Get your tickets now – this is a celebration you don’t want to miss!”

 

Tickets are now available for sale in person at the Days Inn, at local breweries, the SOEC box office, Penticton & Wine Country Visitors Centre and online at www.ValleyFirstTix.com.

 

Not only does the festival host a venue for beer enthusiasts, but it also generates money for local Penticton charities.  In its twenty-year history, the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Society has gifted over $500,000 in net proceeds back to the community. For more information on the 20^th Annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, visit www.FestOfAle.ca