Shellfish Fest in British Columbia
The seventh annual British Columbia Shellfish Festival is expanding this year to ten days of celebrating all things good from the sea. It will take place June 6 through 16, 2013, in the Comox Valley, BC — the oyster growing capital of Canada (map) halfway up Vancouver Island’s east coast.
Along with the chef’s dinner and festival day on the Comox Harbor, new experiences and events have been added to this year’s wine and shellfish pairing events, Fanny Bay Oysters is giving insider looks at the business and science of growing and harvesting shellfish with regular tours of their operation. Comox Harbour Charters is offering cruises to a deep water oyster farm in Baynes Sound.
Eight restaurants including Atlas Café, Locals and the Blackfin Pub will put the, “BC Shellfish Festival on your plate,” by showcasing local oysters, geoducks, clams and other shellfish on their daily fresh sheets throughout the festival. Local hotels, motels and resorts are also getting in on the shellfish celebration offering Slurp and Stay packages.
Festivities kick off June 6, 2013, as mixologists converge on the Flying Canoe Pub in downtown Courtenay (map) for the second annual Mott’s Best Caesar in Town Competition, with buck-a-shuck oysters on offer.
Comox Marina Park will be packed with tastings and “shellfish shenanigans” on June 15, 2013. Concession booths and beer gardens open for business at noon, followed by cooking demonstrations at 12:15 p.m. on the Gazebo Stage. Next up is the Comox Valley Chowder Challenge, before the festival reaches its raucous conclusion with the Fanny Bay Oysters BC Oyster Shucking Championships.
Discover Comox Valley lists the variety of accommodation options with packages ranging from CDN$65 to $129, in addition to a list of events, tours, ideas and inspiration.
(Photo courtesy of BC Shellfish Fest)