More brews, ciders, food and fun at this year’s Okanagan Fest of Ale

Okanagan Fest of Ale turns 25 this year and it promises to be the best and biggest ever.

This year’s event, slated for April 17 and 18, will build on Penticton’s reputation as a brew town with 25 per cent more breweries and cideries participating in a 90 vendor festival, the biggest the Okanagan has ever seen.

This is another record breaking number of participants for us,” Fest of Ale President John Cruickshank says in a press release.

“Of the participating breweries, many will be offering new seasonal releases, collaborations and beers created especially for the festival. The group is a nicely balanced mix of returning favourites, new, and soon to be up and running breweries from neighbourhoods across the province,” Cruickshank says.

There will be fabulous food, photo booths, onsite pop-up shops and live entertainment at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre as well as at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The Best Team Costume contest is also back for the festival’s two-day run.

“Our city has more craft breweries per capita than any other city in Canada, and we are thrilled to be a part of this community,” Cruickshank says.

The Okanagan Fest of Ale is a non-profit society that has donated $757,600 to local charities since its inception.

Cruickshank says early ticket sales are already up 30 per cent over this time last year.

Tickets are available at the Okanagan Fest of Ale website here. Single day admission is $29 while a two-day weekend pass is $49.

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