Whistler’s annual fall festival of food and drink is happening November 7 to 17, 2024 with over 70 events including curated tastings and winery dinners, culinary demonstrations, drink seminars and spirited parties. Whistler Cornucopia is an 11-day event for foodies and the epicurious, it’s a chance to let your taste buds run wild celebrating Whistler’s world-class food and drink scene.
The events are split into four categories; Cornucopia’s Signature Events, Food + Drink Seminars, Culinary Stage Series and Restaurant + Bar events with tickets starting at $35. Although there is always something delicious happening throughout the festival, the bigger, signature events are at the weekends, although mid-week is always a great consideration for more intimate events and good value on accommodation.
Tickets sell out fast for the key events, so let’s dive into each of these Cornucopia categories and see what’s on the menu at Whistler’s festival of food + drink.
Cornucopia Signature Events
The festival kicks off with the West Coast House Party, a mix of live music, local cuisine and wine, spirits and beers all from across the entire West Coast. Indulge in a dinner buffet by Executive Chef Neal Harkins as you mingle. This perennial sellout event is the perfect way to start your weekend early.
The flagship event of Cornucopia, CRUSH Grand Tasting, invites you to sip, sample and savour your way through a variety of BC, Canadian and International wines (there are over 50 wineries involved this year). If you’re the kind of person who likes to get ahead of the crowd, take a look at the Early Entry ticket option or even the smaller, Cellar Door event which features wines valued at $35+.
Do you like a good whodunnit? Savour a sumptuous four-course meal with paired wines served with a side of suspense at the Murder Mystery Dinner. It’s usually themed, so get your tickle trunk out for a night of entertaining drama. We’re all donning headphones and choosing our own DJ adventure at With a Twist: Silent Disco. Flick between three different DJs and dance the night away while sampling a diverse selection of drinks (five drink tokens are included with your ticket).
Two comedy events are happening during Whistler Cornucopia, Laugh Out LIVE! and Comedy Kitchen. Laugh Out LIVE! is a homegrown comedy sensation that’s Saturday Night Live meets Whose Line Is It Anyway? and The Price is Right, with a unique Whistler twist. It’s got sketch, improv, stand-up, special guests, big prize giveaways and your ticket includes one complimentary drink. Comedy Kitchen brings in some of the biggest national stars in stand-up for side-splitting humour, quick wits and hilarious stories. Watch Cornucopia’s social channels for the top comedy lineup for this year.
Nightmarket: Taste of the World brings the vibrant atmosphere of bustling street markets to the mountains. It features dishes crafted by guest chefs and acclaimed restaurants, each offering a unique taste of international flavours. With a casual yet sophisticated setting this event is perfect for exploring diverse cuisine, so come hungry!
For the last weekend, it’s all glitz and glamour with Corncucopia’s NEW event, Straight Up: Gatsby Gold headlining the Saturday night. The evening starts with an hour of open tasting, featuring a carefully curated selection of wines, spirits, craft beers, and signature cocktails (cash bar after that). Dance the night away in your flapper dress or dapper suit to the beats of a live DJ, followed by a live band that will keep the dance floor buzzing.
And last, but certainly not least, the final signature event of the festival is Drag Me to Après, happening from 2 to 5 PM on Sunday. While you dig into some classic après bites with a selection of wine, beer and cocktails, the stage will be filled with jaw-dropping, drag talent. Definitely a fun finale to the final weekend of Whistler Cornucopia.
Cornucopia Food + Drink Seminars
There are over 40 seminars on offer featuring wine, spirits, beers and more, done in an intimate setting with world-class experts. These seminars are all about deepening your knowledge and refining your palate with experts to guide you. You could be intrigued by a certain country, region or varietal, a particular libation or want some drink suggestions for the upcoming festive table.
You can take a deep dive into wines from Tuscany, try and compare bubbles from around the world, dig into whisky and sake, and find out the expert picks for top-value wines. The seminars are your chance to learn something new while sipping on something fun.
Culinary Stage Series
If you’ve ever watched a cooking show and wished you were one of the judges testing the delectable outcomes this is the event for you (minus the stress of actual judging). Set in the airy and light foyer of the Whistler Conference Centre you get to absorb tips and tricks from national chefs, producers and beverage professionals as you sample what they make.
Each Culinary Stage has a different spin, as it depends heavily on the expert on the stage who often brings you something they’re passionate about, whether that be the latest in Mexican cuisine, forest foraging or healthy brunch bites. What you can expect is a delicious, multi-course meal with drink pairings. A few of the menus are already online, just listen to this from Vancouver’s Chef Alana Maas and try not to let your mouth water.
Minted Pea Bruschetta and Truffle Chèvre
Charred Corn Polenta Cake, Parmesan Brodo and Basil Ricotta
Confit Fennel & Arugula Salad, Bosc Pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Rigatoni Carbonara, Pancetta, Peas and Parmesan
Olive Oil and Citrus Cake, Poached Clementines, Mascarpone Cream and Candied Pecans
Restaurant + Bar Events
Whistler has a world-class, award-winning dining scene and Cornucopia is a time for them to experiment, push boundaries and really wow diners. This festival category tends to get bigger and bigger the closer we get to November and spans the Whistler dining scene gamut from fine-dining establishments to cozy eateries. For some of the popular establishments tickets go quickly, but another strategy is to pick somewhere you;ve never gone to before so you can uncover a new gem.
Some restaurants partner with wineries for wine-maker dinners, whereas some lean into a theme or region. For Whistler Cornucopia 2024, tickets for the Restaurant + Bar events are going live on October 1.
Save With Signature Event Packages and Early Bird Tickets
Cornucopia Signature Event Packages combine tickets to the signature events with accommodation, a great way to sort out two planning items in one go and snag a discount (packages start at $95 per person, per night). There’s a finite number of these packages, so book now before they go! Staying through midweek is another way to grab a deal with lower rates away from the weekends. If you stay three nights or more you also receive a free $100 Dining Voucher.
There are also Eary Bird Tickets for CRUSH, Cellar Door, West Coast House Party and Nightmaket: Taste of the World where you can save up to $20 per ticket. There are a limited amount of these tickets so get yours before they go!
6 Whistler Cornucopia Tips
1. Schedule Food Events
Between alcohol seminars and tastings slot in one of the culinary demonstrations or take a stroll in Whistler Village to find a nearby eaterie. For Signature Events like CRUSH, although there are delicious canapes being served, you’re going to want to have dinner beforehand. Take a look at Whistler.com’s dining guide and book an early dinner.
2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
At Cornucopia you will want to increase your water consumption from eight glasses a day to eight glasses an event.
3. Move Your Body
Fall in Whistler is a beautiful time to be in the mountains with their changing colours. Get outside for some fresh, mountain air. Schedule windows of time for activities like a short hike (try Lost Lake), biking on the Valley Trail, or rejuvenating at a spa. You’ll go longer and harder and feel less guilty when you have to get up and do it all over again the next day.
4. Stay in Town
Even Whistler locals take advantage of the Cornucopia accommodation pairings because, after three or more days of food and drink, a good night’s sleep in a king-size bed with high thread-count bedding and housekeeping service is very nice to come home to.
5. Experiment
Adopt an open mindset. Cornucopia is the ultimate celebration of bold tastes, where you can experiment with your palate, expand your knowledge, and celebrate your foodie passions as you explore Whistler’s world-class food and drink scene. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
6. Dress for Success
Try sweaters and skinny jeans for craft beer and scotch tastings, and fancy and festive attire for socials and galas. As a rule of thumb, dress up versus down as you never know who you might meet. We also suggest bringing a waterproof jacket and winter shoes for when you’re not inside!
Cornucopia is an amazing place to learn about and sample new food, wine and spirits. Cornucopia is always connected to a charity and this year it’s the Rotary Club of Whistler. It’s all about feeling good, making friends and enjoying, well, the cornucopia.
Bundle your Signature Event tickets with lodging for unbeatable value with Whistler.com, and if you stay more than three nights you also receive a free $100 Whistler Dining Voucher. Cheers to that!