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A residents' guide to Cornucopia 2010

Cornucopia (kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh/, noun): The horn of plenty, from which fruits and flowers are represented as issuing. It is an emblem of abundance. Whistler's annual celebration of wine and food is pretty aptly titled, as it turns out.

Cornucopia (kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh/, noun): The horn of plenty, from which fruits and flowers are represented as issuing. It is an emblem of abundance.

Whistler's annual celebration of wine and food is pretty aptly titled, as it turns out. In case you haven't had a chance to check out the 2010 schedule just yet, there are plenty of parties, workshops, tastings, seminars and winemaker dinners on offer this year. Organizers have included something for just about everyone, and that includes Whistler residents.

Yes, despite appearances, this festival has quite a few affordable options for people who are interested in immersing themselves in the world of fine wines and food. Here are a few that I think are well worth the price of admission:

House Party (Thursday, Nov. 11, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $35)

For a second year running, the theme of the opening night party is "Best of B.C.," and participants can expect just that, with an impressive array of wineries, breweries and distilleries from across the province (including Fort Berens Estate from Lillooet and the hometown Whistler Brewing) on-hand to offer up samples of their wares. And since it's never fun to drink on an empty stomach, the talented team from the Four Seasons's Sidecut restaurants will be dishing up a decadent barbecue spread, while Windset Farms returns to do their live canapé assembling, on-site. Throw in some tunes from a local DJ, and you have the makings of a great party to start the festival off.

ARTrageous (Thursday Nov. 11, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.; $20 WAC members, $30 non-members)

The second destination of the first night of the festival has to be Whistler's original art party, ARTrageous. Now entering its 15 th year, the Whistler Arts Council has truly managed to put the "art" in "party". This year, their theme is "The Good Old Days." Dusty's will be transported back to the 1950s, complete with a sock hop and a soda shop, plus a display of artwork inspired by the '50s theme. And not all of the artwork is stationary: two local companies will be using models' skin as canvas, while Suzanne Johnston creates a community mural, live. Last but certainly not least, Vancouver's rockabilly/psychobilly group, The Deadcats, and Whistler's own DJ Chili Thom, provide the soundtrack for the party, taking us back in time with a melodic mix of rockabilly, surf, good ol' rock'n'roll and classic '50s hits. And since this is a food and wine festival, after all, Whistler Cooks will provide canapés, while Whistler Brewing's beers and an assortment of wines will be flowing.

Chef's Challenge (Friday Nov. 12, noon; free!)

My fellow Food Network junkies, listen up: this is Whistler's version of Iron Chef. Teams of talented chefs and sous chefs step out of their kitchens for the afternoon and set up shop on the Viking Stage, going head-to-head in a round robin tournament for the title of King of the Cooks. This year, the foodie throwdown will feature competitors from the Bearfoot Bistro and the Four Seasons's Sidecut, who will all have to use a surprise, themed ingredient to produce five delicious dishes in just 60 minutes. The event will be emceed by Edison Mayes and David McIlwraith, the chefs are mic-ed, and the prize is $2,000 in cold, hard cash, so the audience can expect quite the show!

Slow Food Artisan Market (Saturday Nov. 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free!)

Slow Food Sea-to-Sky and The Westin Resort & Spa team up to hold the Slow Food Artisan Market, showcasing the bounty of the region's ranches, farms, waters and studios. Bring a reusable shopping bag - you're going to need it - and take a stroll through two levels of displays and booths, sampling as you go. (You can buy tickets for $1 apiece at the entrance, and each station is priced between one and seven tickets for a taste.) If organic cheeses, veggies, baked treats and original artwork are up your alley, don't miss out on this event. They also have a stellar silent auction on-site, so get ready to bid on some great goodies.

Viking Stage Series' Molecular Gastronomy at its Coolest (Sunday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; $25) The Bearfoot Bistro and Inniskillin Winery team up to present a very sweet treat: the Bearfoot Bistro's pastry chef, Dominic Fortin, will be demonstrating the art of making the most velvety vanilla treat you'll ever taste. Don't let the whole "molecular gastronomy" thing intimidate you: this is simply the ultimate version of the classic frozen dessert, paired with a glass of Inniskillin Okanagan Estate Riesling Icewine. The perfect way for those with a sweet tooth to wrap up the weekend!

Splurge: Okay, so these aren't exactly wallet-friendly, but two parties in particular are well worth their hefty price tags. Ric's Casino Royale (Friday Nov. 12; $125) is an extravagant evening of showgirls, champagne and wine tastings, live violinists and much, much more, while Araxi's Bubbles + Ocean (Saturday, Nov. 13; $155) is a sold-out affair every year for good reason: champagne is flowing all night long, tables are filled with a sumptuous seafood spread and desserts, and the vibe is undeniably hip. Both are a great excuse to dig out a cocktail dress and heels, ladies.