Cornucopia is all about the art of eating, but of course there is more to it all than mere gustation.
Along with the sensory overload from food and drink that will be laid upon the lucky taste buds of festivalgoers, there is what we need to make it even sweeter. Not sugar, but culture.
The annual festival, now in its 18th year, is a 11-day extravaganza of food and drink events, seminars and contests. The entire resort puts on a big show.
This year, it runs from November 6 to 16.
Organizer Sue Eckersley says there are wide and varied music, visual arts and crossover events that combine the epicurean with the artistic.
And it promises to be busy.
"It is going to be amazing," she says.
A long list of events is available at whistlercornucopia.com. Here are some examples:
Wine About Art is an event threading through the festival. Taking place at the White Dog Gallery at the Nita Lake Lodge, participants will paint a canvas while sampling fine Canadian wine.
There will be two sessions on each of four days during Cornucopia, eight events in all:
Friday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., and Friday, Nov. 14 at 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Tickets are $75.
"The attendees will be led through the process of making a painting by a different artist each night. We had one event before like this and it was a great success," says Karla Mummery, assistant director of the gallery.
An artist herself, she will be leading both sessions on Nov. 12.
These nights will be part of the White Dog's offerings in the future; groups need to be a minimum of four people. Mummery described it as "a great team-building exercise."
Bearfoot Bistro and Monster Energy are presenting Revolutions, where four Whistler DJs with international reputations: Mat the Alien, DJ Pump, DJ Illo and Vinyl Ritchie, spin 45s. It's a great chance to dance, eat and enjoy music into the wee hours. It takes place on Saturday, Nov. 15, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $75.
"They are our music central this year. Bearfoot is really the house of the music," Eckersley says.
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is offering numerous "Art of" seminars, mainly foodie driven. But The Art of Edible Centerpieces will satisfy the hungry and the artistic. An opportunity to learn from the Fairmont's pastry chef and chocolatier, Laurent Bernard, it is a hands-on edible art class. Participants will design a sweet and tasty bouquet to take home. It takes place on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $49.
"They're really looking for the artistic side of the culinary world," Eckersley says.
After Poured — The Roaring '20s After Party and Live Burlesque Show takes people back to Prohibition days and illegal speakeasies. Presented by Wiser's Whiskey and Prohibition Brewing Company, it will take place at Garfinkel's nightclub on Saturday, Nov. 15, starting at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Tickets for all events are available at whistlercornucopia.com.
