Do I need to be a writer to attend?
Everyone is welcome at WCWF! If you’re a writer at any stage of the journey, someone in the writing community or industry, a reader, or even someone who is just curious about or interested in the literary arts, there is room for you here!
Can beginner writers attend WCWF?
Yes! Wine Country Writers’ Festival is a creative gathering for emerging and established writers who want to grow their craft, build genuine community, and experience the magic of storytelling in one of Canada’s most scenic regions.
What should I bring to the festival?
- Cloth bag
- Notebook and pen(s)
- Comfortable clothes and shoes
- Water bottle
- Money for the book bar
- Your business cards and books (if you’ve purchased a book bar slot)
- Printed first page of your manuscript (for the slush pile)
- Writing for the open mic
To get ready for the festival, download our festival planning guide, maps, and full schedule here.
Will meals, snacks, and beverages be provided?
Friday Evening Gala:
For the Friday Evening Gala, appetizers and beverages will be provided (with gluten free options available). The first glass of wine is included in your Gala ticket, and additional glasses will be available for purchase.
Saturday Festival:
On Saturday morning, we will have coffee and baked goods (with gluten free options available). ‘The Kitchen’ by Abul Adame will be open until 3:00pm for snacks, hot drinks, and cold beverages. If you didn’t pre-order lunch, you can still order food from ‘The Kitchen’. You will be responsible for organizing any other food purchases on Saturday. You are welcome to bring outside food into the conference rooms. Please note, only non-alcoholic beverages will be served on Saturday. Alcohol is not permitted in the conference room or workshops.
Sunday Member’s Brunch:
If you’re attending the members brunch at ‘LOCAL Public Eatery’ each person is responsible for purchasing their own food.
What is a ‘Slush Pile’ event/How does it work?
You have the opportunity to submit the first page of your manuscript to a Slush Pile where it will be drawn at random and read out loud to a panel of judges. They will listen to the piece and put their hands up when they would stop reading (if they would). Once the majority of judges raises their hands, the reading stops and they each give feedback/critique on the piece. You can claim your piece at the end or leave it anonymous. You’re also welcome to just attend and listen at the event!
How long does each person get to read at the open mic?
Each person will have the opportunity to read for 3-5 minutes at the open mic.
What is your refund policy?
If you’ve purchased a ticket but aren’t able to attend, you can either transfer your ticket to someone else for this year, or use your ticket as a credit toward next year instead. If you have a question regarding your ticket purchase, please contact us.
Do you take proposals to teach or read at your festival?
Thank you for your interest in WCWF! At this time we are invitation only and not accepting proposals. We are filing any received proposals for future reference.
Last year, we had a 100% board turnover, and we’re still working on our vision for future festivals. We highly recommend attending a festival to get a feel for our programming and our community.
If we do begin accepting proposals, all guidelines will be posted on our website. It’s best to subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected and up to date.
How can I get involved?
There are lots of opportunities to get involved with WCWF. You can find detailed information on sponsorship, festival partnerships, and memberships below:
If you’d like to volunteer with us, please contact us here.
What do I get from my membership?
- Monthly member write-ins (on Zoom) beginning in October 2025
- Input into WCWF programming
- Voting rights at Annual and Special General Meetings
- Opportunities to share member news in the WCWF newsletter
- Special perks at our 2025 festival
To learn more about memberships and how to become a member, visit this page.
How do I sponsor or partner with the festival?
For detailed information on sponsorships and partnerships, see the pages below:
Where can I find your code of conduct, diversity statement, and policies?
For detailed information on our code of conduct, diversity statement, and polices, download the policies document below:
