From left Damian Mischkinis, Lee Humphries and Chelsea Keeler were serving fine food at the Sonora Room’s booth at the 2015 Pig Out event held last spring at Covert Farms near Oliver The 2016 Pig Out event, set for April 30, will once again pair wine from local wineries with food prepared by some of the area’s best chefs. (Richard McGuire photo)
Bright sunshine and wine, heaps of great food and a pig roasting on a spit are all part of the annual Pig Out Festival.
As has become tradition, there’s usually a lot going on at the annual Pig Out festival at Covert Farms near Oliver and this year promises to be no different.
According to Tony Munday, president of the Oliver-Osoyoos Winery Association, this year’s roast will be the biggest one yet as 600 people are expected to pack into the festival grounds to watch – and taste – as nine different local chefs put pork and beef to plate in a smorgasbord of culinary creations.
“These chefs will be testing their culinary talent by putting the two most well-known hoofed types of meats – pork and beef – snout to snout in a competition to see who can prepare the best protein,” said Munday.
Munday explained that each year the festival chooses a different theme to test the chefs.
In the past, chefs have been asked to pair pork and seafood (during the “if pigs could swim” themed event) and poultry (for the “if pigs could fly” theme).
This year, each chef will use pork, beef, or both, to adhere to the “if pigs could moo” theme.
The dishes will remain a surprise until the day of the festival, but will be designed to pair with one of the association’s 39 member wineries that will be serving vino at the festival.
Attendees need only bring an empty stomach, as they can spend the afternoon wandering Covert Farms’ vineyards sampling wine and food as they see fit.
“You come, you pay your ticket fee and get in, and you eat and drink until the event is over. It’s a great time,” said Munday.
Along with the food and wine, the festival will also feature the talent of local rockers Montoya, as well “lots to do for the kids,” including Covert’s giant bouncy pillow and rolling tube.
According to Munday, local cheese makers will also be on site and anyone looking to get airborne can book a helicopter ride from the site for $50.
This year’s Pig Out event is set for April 30, from 1 – 4 p.m.
Food and wine lovers from across the Okanagan Valley now travel to Oliver to participate in the Pig Out event.
Dozens of Osoyoos and area residents also make the short trip to Oliver to enjoy a day of food, wine, good times and a lot of laughs, said Munday.
Tickets are selling fast, so anyone hoping to snatch up a last-minute spot at the festival should head to the Oliver Visitor Centre, or visit OliverOsoyoos.com to purchase tickets online.
TREVOR NICHOLS
Regional Reporter
