Original artworks created as festival showcases Okanagan wines and mountain hiking
Silver Star Mountain Resort (voted Best of the Okanagan, Readers’ Choice 2012) is hosting a two-day Summer Food & Wine Festival on August 9 and 10. During the festival, six artists from Gallery Odin will capture the beauty and serenity of Silver Star Mountain from the heart of the Village.
Vernon local Destanne Norris is one of six artists creating original artworks over the two-day festival.
A silent auction of the Okanagan artworks begins at 4 p.m. August 10. Proceeds from the auction will be split between the artists and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. This year’s contributing artists are Glenn Clark, Elizabeth Moore, Destanne Norris, Wendy Penner, Barry Rafuse and Julia Trops.
“The summer festival and the marquee event, Mile High Wine, is an opportunity to revel in fresh mountain air and enjoy award-winning wines from across the Okanagan Valley,” says Ian Galbraith, summer business manager at Silver Star. “Come and experience the village, ride the chairlift to the top of the mountain and explore our world-class hiking and mountain bike trails.”
The Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and Silver Star Mountain Resort have teamed up for the signature summer tasting during the festival – Mile High Wine presented by Valley First on Saturday at 3 p.m.
“Our summer tastings have been tremendously popular, so we’re delighted to create Mile High Wine as a new signature event,” says Blair Baldwin, General Manger, Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. “What could be more authentically British Columbian than enjoying BC wine in the picturesque mountain village at Silver Star. Mile High Wine is ideal to sample BC wines from across the Okanagan Valley in a fun and stunningly beautiful setting.”
Okanagan Wine Festivals Society GM Blair Baldwin toasts with Silver Star’s summer manager, Ian Galbraith.
Featuring more than 100 wines, Mile High Wine offers outdoor wine tastings, appetizers and live entertainment along Main Street in the Silver Star Village. Guests can travel the valley wineries all under the open sky as 30 wineries from across the Okanagan Valley will showcase their new varietals at the summer signature event. Also featured will be the culinary creations of Gumtree Catering, voted best caterer of the North Okanagan.
A series of Wine Master dinners paired with Okanagan Wine are set for Friday night. Diners can choose antipasto, tapas BBQ or fine dining options presented at the resort’s restaurants: The Bulldog Grand Café, The Bulldog Hideaway Lounge and the Silver Grill.
Over the two-days, the resort is offering guided tours of the mountain trails with a grand tour and scenic ride up the Summer Sky Chairlift set for Friday and a shorter tour available on Saturday afternoon. Hikers will discover the unique wildflowers, wildlife, geology and history of the mountain with a new twist on tasting, comparing wild berries to wines.
Victorian-inspired mountainside condos are available at Snowbird Lodge or FireLight Lodge for the two-night stay for $196. The Bulldog Hotel offers an affordable one-night stay at $89.
Silver Star Mountain Bike Park opens for the summer season from June 27 to September 2. Fed by the Comet Express lift, the bike park features 18 dedicated mountain bike trails and jump features and a vertical drop of 760 metres (2,000 ft). New in 2013, the cross-country biking trail network includes seven trails in total. For hikers, the Summit Sky Chair offers a scenic lift from the village to mountaintop, operating Fridays to Sundays.
Summer Wine Festival tickets prices include:
True Taste of Silver Star Grand Tour $39
True Taste of Silver Star Short & Sweet Tour $19
Wine Master Dinner from $55 to $89
Mile High Wine Tasting $55
Guests can purchase the tickets by phone 1-800-663-4431 or email info@skisilverstar.com.
