Over 200 beers and ciders to try at Okanagan Fest of Ale this weekend

If you’re a fan of craft beer and cider, you will want to make sure you’re in Penticton this weekend.

The 27th annual Okanagan Fest of Ale is set to kick off at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC) this afternoon.

There will be beer, cider, food and live entertainment on tap from 4-9 pm today and noon-6 pm on Saturday.

“We have an amazing lineup of beer, cider and food vendors this year,” said Michael Stocker, president of the Okanagan Fest of Ale Society.

“Brewers from all over the province will be making the trek to our beautiful city to partake in the festivities with lots of other events happening around town to accompany the Fest of Ale.”

There will be 70 breweries and cideries on site, and with each having three beverages to taste that means 210 total options for attendees this weekend.

Of course, there will be a great lineup of musicians and entertainers as well, ensuring everyone is enjoying their time at the PTCC.

“Throughout the year, our volunteer board of directors work to put together a great schedule over the weekend and this year is no different,” added Stocker.

“We will have live music in the Hopyard and inside, activities, photo booths, all while tasting some of the finest brews on the market.”

For those attending Okanagan Fest of Ale this weekend, the City of Penticton is offering free bus service to all ticket holders and volunteers.

All you need to do is show your event ticket and you’ll be able to hop on the bus free of charge, which will help everyone get home safely even if they have tried a few too many beers or ciders.

There are a limited number of tickets still available on the Okanagan Fest of Ale website and proceeds from the event go directly to local charities.

Over the years, the popular annual event has donated more than $800,000 and organizers say they’re looking forward to adding to that total this year.