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Okanagan-Taste

Explore and savour events this long weekend

Easter events this weekend

The unofficial kick-off to the Okanagan’s annual season of signature events and stepping out for a day of savouring local sips is here—the spring (Easter) long weekend.

With three or four days to enjoy, there is plenty to do. However, a bit of planning might be helpful. On top of a number of events, advancing polls for the upcoming federal election will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 18 to 21 and some familiar facilities in your area may be in use by Elections Canada.

The weekend also invites you to explore Easter brunches, such as:

• Easter brunch buffet (or Easter dinner) at the Gulfstream at the Four Points Sheraton in Kelowna

• An Easter brunch buffet at the RANGE restaurant, bar + patio at Predator Ridge Resort near Vernon

• A two-course brunch at The Garden Bistro at Peak Cellars in Lake Country

• An Easter brunch buffet at the Penticton Lakeside Resort

• An Easter brunch at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna

For a little more extensive exploring, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive is celebrating the opening of the season with a visit to its Spring preview weekend. Visitors can enjoy Easter egg hunts, exclusive tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and more as they navigate any of the three distinct touring routes around the area.

Naramata has already been in the swing of spring with Naramata Blooms happening now until June 20, featuring events, special culinary events, plus staycation options. This weekend, take in the Great Golden Egg Hunt at Aikins Loop wineries.

Further south in Kaleden, Okanagan Warriors Adventure, and outdoor adventure course, kids (and their parents) can take part in Easter Adventure: The Chocolate Compass Quest! which begins with learning the basics of map and compass navigation before heading out to the course to finding hidden chocolates at each checkpoint.

The Grist Mill in Keremeos will host a family-friendly Easter egg hunt across its picturesque gardens and historic buildings. In Oliver, Riding 4 Life and Sagebrush Pony Parties will have an Eggscellent Easter Egg Hunt with pony rides, games, prizes, crafts, a photo booth, and more. In Osoyoos, the Osoyoos Festival Society invites you to its Easter Extravaganza in Gyro Park which begins with a pancake breakfast before a bike and trike parade, followed by an Easter bonnet parade.

And finally, stop by Vin Amité Cellars in Oliver on Sunday for its first Easter market. Sip a complimentary sample of Chardonnay while browsing local vendors. Bonus: Lewis Cardinal, will be playing a selection of covers and original songs as you sip and shop.

For specific times, reservations if required, and other info, visit the links above.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

A creative thinker with more than two decades of experience in communications, Allison is an early adopter of social and digital media, bringing years of work in traditional media to the new frontier of digital engagement marketing through her company, All She Wrote.

She is the winner of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association's 2011 and 2012 awards for Social Media Initiative, an International LERN award for marketing, and the 2014 Penticton Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Hospitality/Tourism.

Allison has amassed a following on multiple social networks of more than 30,000, frequently writes and about social media, food and libations as well as travel and events, and through her networks, she led a successful bid to bring the Wine Bloggers Conference to Penticton in June 2013, one of the largest social media wine events in the world, generating 31 million social media impressions, $1 million in earned media, and an estimated ongoing economic impact of $2 million.

In 2014, she held the first Canadian Wine Tourism Summit to spark conversation about the potential for wine tourism in Canada as a year-round economic driver.

Allison contributes epicurean content to several publications, has been a judge for several wine and food competitions, and has earned her advanced certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

In her spare time, she has deep, meaningful conversations with her cats.

She can be reached at [email protected]



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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