The Whistler Villiage Beer Festival, which takes place from September 16 to 20 this year, is growing.

According to a news release, the Olympic Village site where the main tasting event will be held on Saturday and Sunday (September 19 and 20)  is expanding by 40 percent, pushing outwards into the plaza. While the original plan for this year was to split up the participating breweries over the weekend, most will now be pouring on both days.

As of today, (August 10), 75 breweries are scheduled for September 19 and 65 breweries for September 20. (There was 64 on the single main festival day last year.)

They range from local to further afield, including Vancouver's Off the Rail Brewing, Port Moody's new Twin Sails Brewing, Ontario's Muskoka Brewing, and Portland's Breakside Brewery. (For more on the breweries, see the WVBF's Facebook page.)

Organizers expect over 3,000 people in attendance each day. General admission to each weekend tasting is $35 (plus service charge) with a weekend pass covering both days for $60 (plus service charge). 

Other events over the five-day festival include educational seminars on Friday, September 18. Ken Beattie, executive director of BC Craft Brewers Guild, will again be teaching his lively, entertaining Craft Beer 101 and History of Beer seminars, while CAMRA Vancouver will be offering Hops 101 and Cider 101. 

There are also several beer-pairing dinners. For example, Thursday, September 17 will feature a Deschutes Brewing beer-paring dinner at the Dubh Linn Gate hosted by brewmaster Lance Mitchell.

On Saturday, September 19, the Westin hotel's Grill & Vine restaurant will host a five-course dinner with craft beer pairings hosted by Shae De Jaray, founder of North Vancouver's Deep Cove Brewers & Distillers. 

Cask nights are also scheduled. For more info and tickets see Whistler Village Beer Festival's website.