Guests to Silver Star Mountain Resort are about to enjoy some beautiful sights while they sip some of the bounty of the region.
The resort is hosting the two-day Silver Star Summer Wine and Food Festival Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10, and artists are playing a big part in the festivities.
Visitors will have lots of opportunity to enjoy the natural and the artistically created beauty on the mountain, and incredible wine with the signature summer tasting event during the festival, say organizers with the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society and the resort.
“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,” said 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.”
This year’s festival includes a live and interactive arts event.
Okanagan artists Glenn Clark, Elizabeth Moore, Destanne Norris, Wendy Hart Penner, Barry Rafuse and Julia Trops are being hosted by the mountain’s Gallery Odin to capture the beauty and serenity of Silver Star when they paint “live” from the heart of the village.
The resulting paintings will go on auction at the event.
The artists will work on their pieces starting Friday at noon and all day Saturday until 4 p.m., when the Mile High Wine tasting starts, said Kal and Maria Molnar, Gallery Odin proprietors.
“This will signal the beginning of the silent auction bidding process for each art work,” they said.
The auction closes at 6:30 p.m. and proceeds from sales will be split 50/50 between the artists and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.
Gallery Odin is also setting up a gallery, with artwork from the featured artists as well as many others from the region who they represent, in Silver Star’s Snowsports school building, located in the village, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the festival.
In addition, the gallery, located at 215 Odin Rd. on the “Knoll,” will be also open during those times.
Visitors can start enjoying libation from a number of Okanagan wineries at the Mile High Wine tasting, presented by Valley First, Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Featuring more than 100 wines, Mile High Wine offers outdoor tastings, appetizers and live entertainment along Main Street in the Silver Star Village. Guests can travel to valley wineries all under the open sky as 30 establishments from across the Okanagan 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 by the readers of Okanagan Life magazine.
“Our summer tastings have been tremendously popular, so we’re delighted to create Mile High Wine as a new signature event,” said Blair Baldwin, general manager of the Okanagan Wine Festivals Society. “What could be more authentically British Columbian than enjoying B.C. wine in the picturesque mountain village at Silver Star with a great band, local caterer and fantastic cheese supplied by the Dairy Farmers of Canada? Mile High Wine is ideal to sample B.C. wines from across the Okanagan Valley in a fun and stunningly beautiful setting.”
A series of wine master dinners paired with Okanagan wines are also set for Friday night. Diners can choose antipasto, tapas, barbecue 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 Summit Sky Chair 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.
The Silver Star Mountain Bike Park will also be open.
Fed by the Comet Express lift, the bike park features 18 dedicated mountain bike trails and jumps and a vertical drop of 760 metres (2,000 feet). New in 2013, the cross-country biking trail network includes seven trails in total.
Those who wish to stay on the mountain can book two-night accommodation packages at the Snowbird Lodge or FireLight Lodge, or an affordable one-night stay at the The Bulldog Hotel.
For tickets and information, phone 1-800-663-4431, e-mail info@skisilverstar.com or visit www.skisilverstar.com.
