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As any Canadian knows, spring is a time of liberation, and maybe a little libation. Finally freed from the dark drudgery of winter, we kick up our collective heels and celebrate with a glass or two of something special, or a weekend getaway.

Or, preferably, both: Along with the warm weather comes the season of beer, wine and spirits festivals. Highlighting many of the finest beverages the world has to offer, from ebony ales in Montreal to smoky single malts in Chicago and original cocktail creations in New Orleans, this year's weekend festivals offer enthusiasts the chance to savour a wide selection of spirited choices, often for a mere fraction of their retail price. Here's a sampling of this year's best fests:

WhiskyFest

Chicago, Ill.

Part of a three-city road show of whisky appreciation (the New York and San Francisco events are in October), the Chicago leg of WhiskyFest touches down at the Hyatt Regency for its seventh year, bringing an unparalleled array of whisky to the heart of what may just be the hottest restaurant scene in the States. Whether you are a dedicated aficionado or a whisky newcomer, there's plenty to sample during this 3½-hour festival (4½ hours for VIP ticket holders). Over 250 spirits, from super-premium bourbons such as the Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old to rare single malts including the 17-year-old Macallan "Fine Oak." Also included in the price are a gourmet buffet that promises to live up to its billing, a whisky tasting glass from Glencairn Crystal of Scotland and seminars by industry leaders such as Glenfiddich's distillery manager Ian Millar.

April 13, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets from $122. For more information, call 800-610-MALT or visit MaltAdvocate.com.

15th Annual Hospice du Rhône

Paso Robles, Calif.

You might expect that the most important event involving Rhône wines and their varietal grapes would be held somewhere on or near the Rhône River. But it's not. It's held on the California coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, in the heart of the state's fastest growing wine country. It's hosted by a group as passionate about the grape as any Frenchman, if perhaps a trifle less serious (as witnessed by such HdR events as the annual bowling tournament, the Rhône-N-Bowl). Events requiring more tongue and less cheek include specially crafted wine dinners, a barrel auction and, of course, a "Grand Tasting" of international wines made from Rhône varietal grapes.

May 3 - 5. Tickets from $110. For more information, call 805-784-9543 or visit hospicedurhone.org. Mondial de la Bière

Montreal, Que.

Canada's largest beer festival returns to the stylish confines of the restored Windsor Station, once the headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway, for five days of the best in local, domestic and international lager and ale. Free admission means that tasters can come and go as they please -- patrons pay only for what they sample -- and an almost unrivalled selection means that there is no chance of running out of beer to taste. Expect unconventional offerings from Quebec's innovative craft brewers, exclusive imports from Europe and the best of the new "extreme" generation of flavourful and often potent U.S. craft brews, all complemented by food that wouldn't be out of place in many Montreal restaurants.

May 30 - June 3. Free. For more information, call 514-722-9640 or visit festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca.

Tales of the Cocktail

New Orleans, La.

It is said that the cocktail was born in New Orleans, so it's only fitting that the continent's biggest celebration of the studiously mixed drink takes place in the Big Easy. This jam-packed, five-day festival of everything distilled, shaken or stirred features such disparate seminars as an exploration of the martini led by Robert Hess of DrinkBoy.com and a look at the use of aromatics in cocktails hosted by Audrey Saunders of New York city's renowned Pegu Club. Plus, there are tastings, parties, food and cocktail pairings and plenty of time to gather around the bar and chat with legends in the spirits and cocktail world.

July 18 - 22. Registration is $17, events are extra. For more information call 888-299-0404 or visit talesofthecocktail.com.

Oregon Brewers Festival

Portland, Ore.

There are larger festivals in the U.S., but none attract more people than this free, four-day tasting event. Held at the riverside Tom McCall Waterfront Park, an idyllic oasis in the centre of the city, the OBF, as it's known, is the ultimate in relaxed beer tasting. Plentiful green space well removed from the beer tents means there's ample room for the over 55,000 who attend annually, and ensures the OBF's atmosphere encourages contemplation over consumption. For a buck a taste, plus $4 (U.S.) for a plastic mug, patrons get to sample from among the best the Pacific northwest craft-brewing scene has to offer, all poured from the tap and many created specially for the OBF.

July 26 - 29. Free. For more information, call 503-778-5917 or visit oregonbrewfest.com. Natchez Food & Wine Festival

Natchez, Miss.

Miraculously spared much of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi River town of Natchez is one of the prettiest in the south, dotted with old plantation homes and evocative of every pleasurable cliché that comes to mind when the phrase "southern hospitality" is uttered. As befits the setting, the Food & Wine Festival is dignified and low-key, with the centrepiece being a showcase of regional foods and premium wines called "A Taste of the River." Other events include a cocktail class and the 4th Annual Martha White/Great River Road Biscuit Cook Off, a battle for year-long bragging rights as queen, or king, of this iconic southern specialty.

August 3 - 4. Tickets from $29. For more information, visit natchezfoodfest.com.