CALLING ALL CIDER ENTHUSIASTS! The Toronto Cider Festival is back for its 2nd annual event at Dundas Sq and I am giving away a pair of complementary entry tickets! Come join me at the festival and sample 40 varieties of refreshing ciders produced by 20 of the top cider companies from across Canada and abroad! If that’s not enough to entice you there will also be a variety of food options to choose from including a Wood Oven Pizza by “Aristocaters” and a variety of top food trucks offering delicious treats made to perfectly compliment your cider sampling experience. THE FUN DOESN’T STOP THERE! There will also be various forms of special entertainment, including live music and Toronto’s best DJs. YAY!

The Toronto Cider Festival will be hosted in the heart of Toronto at Dundas Sq* on Saturday August 27th 2016 and will feature a comfortable ‘cottage-themed‘ atmosphere. This one of a kind festival will give you access to 20 different cider companies (list below) with more than 40 different taps of cider.

If you do not win the tickets you can always purchase tickets at the Toronto Cider Festival website and choose to attend the Day or Night session (each four-and-a-half-hours in duration) or A VIP session which will provide exclusive early admission to the evening session, 10 sample tokens and access to a “Food and Cider Pairing” discussion led by Doris Miculan Bradley - a 20-year industry professional and the Canadian Brand Ambassador for The Wines of Vinho Verde!

Regardless of what session you will attend there will be a variety of food options (list below) to choose from as well as various forms of special entertainment including live music, Toronto’s best DJs and the Toronto Cider Festival Photo Booth. In addition to my contest, there will also be some exciting contests with amazing prize giveaways at the event - like a trip to Ireland courtesy of Magners Irish Cider and a weekend getaway to Prince Edward County courtesy of The County Cider Company.

*For more information about the location of the festival or directions on how to get there click -> HERE

Participating Cider Companies:

·      The County Cider Company                         ·      Duxbury Cider Co.
·      Angry Orchard Hard Cider                           ·      Double Trouble Grow A Pear
·      Magners Irish Cider                                    ·      Magnotta Brewing Co.
·      Pommies Cider Co.                                        ·      Thornbury Premium Cider
·      Spirit Tree Estate Cidery                              ·      Brickworks Ciderhouse
·      Ironwood Cider                                             ·      Forbidden Dry Cider
·      Shiny Apple Cider                                         ·      Ernest Cider
·      Lonetree Authentic Dry Cider                      ·      KW Cider
·      Wanderoot                                                     ·      Heritage Estate Cidery
·      Savanna Dry Cider                                        ·      Calvados Boulard

Food Trucks/Vendors:

·      Pili Pili
·      Wood Oven Pizza by Aristocaters
·      The Mustache Burger
·      SnakAtak

ALSO DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE TORONTO CIDER FESTIVAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

#TOCiderFest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torontociderfestival
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/952817434739622/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tociderfest
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tociderfest

CONTEST RULES!

You must be 19+ to enter and the winner has to be able to get themselves to Toronto! Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!

Each entry ticket come with 4 Sample Tokens and Commemorative Sampling Cup - Total value is $60.00 + HST! These tickets also give attendees access to 20 different cider companies with more than 40 different taps of cider, a handful of food trucks, and various forms of entertainment, including live music, exciting contests and amazing prizes.

GOOD LUCK!!!! SEE YOU THERE!!!!

I am giving away 2 Complimentary Tickets to Toronto's Festival of Beer for Friday July 22, 2016 at Banshell Park in Exhibition Place with a musical performance by HOUSE OF PAIN - "Jump up, jump up and get down!"

You must be 19+ to enter and the winner has to be able to get themselves to Toronto! Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!

FOR MORE INFO ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AT TORONTO'S FESTIVAL OF BEER SEE HERE-> http://beerfestival.ca/stay-the-night/

** These passes do not come with tokens but include a Commemorative Sampling Mug - Total value is $42.50 + HST

6 WAYS TO ENTER OR DO ALL SIX FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TORONTO FESTIVAL OF BEER!

1) 333 Beautiful Brews

Yep, you read that right. 333 beautiful, tasty, robust brews will be available at Toronto’s Festival of Beer. This is NOT an invitation to try them all. That’s ridiculous. This IS an open invitation to discover something new or re-discover a brew from you past. It’s all about discovery. Read the official press release HERE.

2) The Chefs

Over 16 rock star chefs will be showcasing their culinary skill inside the Club House La Grille Grilling Tent. They are: Chef Albert Ponzo, Chef Amanda Ray, Chef Alida Solomon, Chef Basilio Pesce, Chef Cory Vitiello, Chef Craig Harding, Chef Devin Connell, Chef Eric Pateman, Chef Frank Parhizgar, Chef Ivana Raca, Chef Michael Hunter, Chef Patrick McMurray, Chef Rocco Agostino, Chef Ted Reader, Chef Trevor Lui, and Chef Trista Shee …. WOWZA!!!

3) The Food

Scattered around Bandshell Park inside Exhibitioon Place, you’ll find a wide array of food options. They include: Campagnolo, Dawgfather, Fidel Gastro’s, Tiny Tom Donuts, Melt Grilled Cheese, Ontario Corn Roasters, Oyster Boy, The Pie Commission, Queen Margherita Pizza, Hot Bunzz Street Cuisine, The County General, Mangia & Bevi, Smoke’s Poutinerie, South St Burger Co., Ted Reader’s World Famous BBQ, Mama Ratty Pies. See the full list!

4) The Beer School Sessions

The Beer School Sessions in partnership with Prud’homme Beer Certification is on site all weekend long to educate the masses. The exact schedule of what you can learn and who is teaching, can be found HERE! All those years of people saying ‘School is cool’ have finally come true.

5) World of Beer Pavilion – Who will it be?

Last year we invited 13 Irish Brewers and bunch of Irish Chefs and a couple Irish bands to celebrate all things Ireland. This year we’ve crossed oceans once again to find the perfect hub of beer producers and chefs. We are just crossing the I’s and dotting the T’s (yes, that was intentional) and we’ll be announcing the country we will focus on very soon. Here’s a hint: They are one of the few countries on earth that don’t end in ‘A’. Any guesses?

6) Pairs With Beer

When you’re at the Festival and getting a beer, talk to the person working for the Brewery. They know their beer and can probably recommend what goes with it. Take advantage of the experts!! HERE is a list of all the breweries that will be at the Festival this year.

GOOD LUCK!!!!