Feastival is coming on June 17 & 18

“FEASTIVAL” is Nanaimo’s second annual festival celebrating the Island’s culinary culture. This year, the mid-Island’s food and beverage festival takes place over two days on June 17 & 18 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

Friday, June 17 from 6 – 9:30 pm we’ll introduce an addition to the original Feastival concept called “SIPS” – an evening of sipping and sampling local craft brews, ciders, wines, and spirits! Meet some of the finest Vancouver Island and lower mainland craft producers and enjoy offerings from food trucks we’ll have outside the event. SIPS also features a home brewing event called ‘Brewed Right Here’ where brewers will compete to have their recipes bottled by a local craft brewer.

On Saturday, June 18 from 10 am to 4 pm, Feastival visitors will rediscover last year’s favourite attractions like our Celebrity Chef Stage, this year welcoming Chefs Karen Barnaby, Vancouver Sun columnist and past Executive Chef of the Fish House in Stanley Park; Daniel Caron & Tammy Deline of 2 Chef’s Affair and the Modern Café; Laura Gosnell of Coast Fresh Salmon; and ‘Honey’ cookbook author Angelo Prosperi-Porta.

Family Cooking Lessons are hosted by FoodShare once again and presented by Paradise Island Cheese. This year participants of all ages can learn how to make quinoa wheat barley salad with cheese – and delicious smoothies to wash it down with. A Seafood Chowder Cookoff between The Bold Knight and Sea Salt Catering includes unlimited taste tests of the two chowders so you and your family can help pick the People’s Choice this year.

Visit local restaurants’ and food producers’ booths, such as Trees Yogurt, New York Style Pizza and Daksha Gourmet Spices for samples of their specialties. The Feastival trade show presents products and services designed to make your at-home and dine-out experiences better so indulge yourself on all of these samples and tastes too.

The Saturday daytime “SIPS” section features tastings of Island wines, craft brews and spirits. Discover some interesting local producers to possibly change the bevvies on your ‘favourites’ list. And, out on Gordon Street, Feastival features the return of the food trucks with their diverse fare and selection of street eats.

Don’t miss Feastival this year. Get a taste of the Island’s culinary culture in all its delicious forms. Tickets and more information available at www.feastival.ca.