8 Upcoming Events That Are All About Eating and Drinking

From beer tasting to pie making, these events are all about eating and drinking.

The Big Taste

March 3 to March 12

It’s that annual event with nearly 100 restaurants participating in special events and prix fixe dining. Participating restaurants have three-course lunches for $15 or $25 and dinners for $25 or $35. Some also have five-course gourmet dinners for $65. There are happy hour options and signature events like the winemaker’s dinner at Deane House and the earth, water, fire dinner crawl at Charcut, Catch and Teatro.

Various locations, calgarydowntown.com

March Forth Dinner

Saturday, March 4

This is the second annual March Forth Dinner hosted by One Voice Choir. March 4 is a day set aside to pay extra attention to moving toward your dreams and aspirations. At this event, that sentiment is celebrated with an Italian demonstration dinner and wine pairings. Tickets are $30.

Unitarian Church of Calgary, 1703 1 St. N.W., onevoicechorus.ca

Maple Festival des Sucres

Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5

Perhaps the sweetest, most Canadian two days of the year. Maple Fest celebrates French Canadian, First Nations and Metis culture. There is live music and activity stations throughout Heritage Park for the festival. The food element comes in at the Sugar Shack where a meal of crepes, maple syrup, ham, potatoes, scrambled eggs, maple and bacon baked beans and maple pea soup is served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Guarantee your meal by ordering it ahead online. Admission to the festival is $10 to $14. The traditional meal costs between $10 and $22.50.

Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., calgarymaplefest-eng.com

Pie Making Day

Saturday, March 11

If you want to learn how to make pies, go to the Calgary Farmers’ Market the morning of March 11. The Jungle Farm will guide you through making a 6-inch apple pie from scratch. The lesson is $20.

Calgary Farmers’ Market, 510 77 Ave. S.E., eventbrite.ca

Handcrafted: A Kick Off to St. Patrick’s Day Brewmaster’s Dinner

Thursday, March 16

Get a taste of St. Patrick’s Day at this event in Heritage Park’s Gasoline Alley. The brewmaster is Paul Gautreau from Big Rock Brewery who has selected beers to go with a four-course, Irish-infusion dinner by executive chef Leighton Smyth. Think Brome Lake duck confit cabbage rolls paired with the Big Rock Scottish Style Heavy Ale and Driveview Farms roasted lamb loin paired with the Rock Creek Dry Cider. After dinner, tap your toes to a performance by Ashley MacIsaac. Tickets are $119 or $850 for a table of eight.

Gasoline Alley Museum, Heritage Park, 1900 Heritage Dr. S.W., heritagepark.ca

The Grape Escape

Saturday, March 25

A giant event centre is filled with samples of wine, spirits and beer. The good news is that this is one of Calgary Co-op Wine Spirits Beer’s signature events, so you’ll know where to go after to buy your favourite tastes. Sommeliers are on hand to educate you and food trucks will also be there for food to go with your drinks. Tickets are $65.

BMO Centre, Stampede Park, coopwinespiritsbeer.com

Wine, Women and Shoes

Friday, April 7

This fundraising event for Wood’s Homes has all the elements of a great ladies night out. The Jack Singer Concert Hall Lobby will be filled with wine and food tasting stations and turned into a boutique market. Tickets are $100.

Jack Singer Concert Hall, Arts Commons, woodhomes.ca

Celebrity Hors d’Oeuvres

Saturday, April 8

This annual fundraiser for Alberta Theatre Projects pairs local celebrities with chefs. The teams compete by creating hors d’oeuvres and convincing guests that their bite is the best. Your job, should you attend, is to eat them all. Tickets are $100 and include all hors d’oeuvres and drink pairings.

Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 10801 Bonaventure Dr. S.E., atplive.com