Let's get half corked
It's way too late to sign up for the run, but you can certainly still show up for the eating and drinking today at the Half Corked Marathon in Oliver.
Early this morning, 1,200 runners will start the race in three waves on Black Sage Road near Burrowing Owl Winery.
They'll meander 18 kilometres through South Okanagan wine country and finish at Oliver Community Park.
While participants have to be in shape enough to cover 18 kilometres, the race isn't all that serious.
Runners are encouraged to wear costumes and ham it up.
The Party at the Finish Line isn't just for those that complete the run.
Anyone can show up from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to listen to the live band and watch the costume judging.
Those that want to taste wine from the various wineries with booths at the party can buy a tasting package for $23. Food trucks will also be on hand. If you don't get enough food and wine there, you can head over to Road 13 Winery's $40 Recovery BBQ from 6 to 9 p.m. to nosh on wood-fired pizza and sip a Road 13 vintage.
On Sunday there's a pancake breakfast among the grape vines at Oliver Twist Winery from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Donations for pancakes will go to Kelowna General Hospital.
Be a jerk
You can eat your fill of jerk chicken, curried goat, rice and peas and corn bread today at the House of the Caribbean BBQ in Kelowna.
The cuisine of the islands will be accompanied by music from a DJ and live reggae band from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The festivities will all be in the parking lot in front of House of the Caribbean Food Supply, which is at the back of the Towne Centre Mall off Lawrence Avenue.
Donations for food will go to help put on the sixth annual Caribbean Festival on July 15 in City Park.
Beer Run
Ten kilometres, six beer tastings and two food stops.
It's the unique running-drinking-eating trio of the inaugural Kettle Valley Station Pub Beer Run taking place in Penticton next weekend.
Runners who register for $75 by June 1 at PentictonBeerRun.com will be shuttled from the South Okanagan Events Centre to Square One Hops Farm at 9:30 a.m.
Before they even start the 10-kilometre course, they can put back a brew from Tin Whistle Brewing.
Then it's onto the Kettle Valley Rail Trail toward Penticton.
Once downtown they can sip suds at Cannery Brewing and make sustenance stops at Tacos Del Norte and Burger 55.
They'll pass Hoodoo Adventures, the organizers of the beer run, before hitting the third beer offering at Barley Mill Brew Pub.
There will also be beer along the way at Bad Tattoo Brewing and Highway 97 Brewery before finishing at Kettle Valley Station Pub for, what else?, more beer, live music, costume judging (yes, runners are encouraged to dress up) and prizes.
Net proceeds from the run will be donated to the Youth Outdoor Recreation Society, a program Hoodoo is passionate about.
Mr. Peng
Make-your-own wine store Mission Creek Cellars in Kelowna is under new ownership.
Leon Gaba has sold the 19-yearold business to an investor who likes to be known as Mr. Peng.
Milana Andreasen will stay on as manager and Jim McCormick will continue as vintner.
The store, located in Mission Park mall, allows people to make wine on site with Winexpert supplies and equipment.
The process starts with sprinkling some yeast and finishes up four to eight weeks later when you show up to bottle.
Or, people can buy supplies at Mission Creek Cellars to make their own wine at home.
Gaba is joining his wife, Jaime Briggs, in her business, Briggs On Homes Group at Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty.
Mile High Wine
Tickets go on sale Tuesday for outdoor wine fest Mile High Wine & Music, which will be held at Silver Star Moutain Resort near Vernon on Aug. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thirty Okanagan wineries will set up booths in the summer alpine setting for 500 wine lovers.
Over the weekend there will also be two food-and-wine-pairing dinners and a cooking demonstration.
And guests are also encouraged to bike, hike, ride the chairlift or take a wildflower tour to experience what the ski resort has to offer in the summer.
Accommodation packages are also available to stay at one of the hotels at Silver Star.
Check out SilverStarWineFestival.com.
Steve MacNaull is the Okanagan Saturday's business reporter and columnist. But he also loves to eat and drink, thus his new Fill 'er Up column on the Wine & Dine page.
Reach the writer at steve.macnaull@ok.bc.ca.