Every year people gather in Lund to enjoy fresh cooked seafood, music, boat tours, shopping and many other activities at the Lund Shellfish Festival. This year, the festival will run Friday through Sunday, May 25 to 27.
Organizer Ann Snow said there were well over 500 people at the festival last year and she is expecting closer to 800 people taking in events this year. “It’s a riot,” she said. “We’ve got music all day and lots to eat, lots to buy, we’ve got the tours happening. You can do a two-hour introductory kayak tour up the harbour.”
At 6 pm on Friday, May 25 the festival will kick off with the Lund Community Hall Chowder Challenge, where people can sample seafood chowders and vote for their favourite. There will be fresh prawns, other treats, a silent auction, cash bar and an opportunity to meet other locals. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling Tourism Powell River at 604.485.4701.
On Saturday, the festival begins at 10 am with the Bunsters tour, four hours of four-wheeling with George’s Coastal Backroads Adventures. At 10:45 am, the harbour kayak tour provided by Footprint Nature Explorations begins. Music at centre stage, food kiosks where local shellfish growers dish up fresh seafood and craft booths are available throughout the afternoon with restaurant specials running all day.
Performing at centre stage on Saturday will be Ceilish Trad Band at 12:15 pm, Phil Williams at 1:45 pm, and George Huber and Colleen Cox at 3:15 pm. Performers for the 4:30 pm show are to be announced.
New this year will be an oyster shucking contest at the Laughing Oyster Restaurant. The contest, which starts at 6 pm, is for local oyster farmers and the restaurant’s famous seafood buffet and Buddy Holly show will follow.
Alternatively, festival goers could finish the Saturday with the shellfish sampler cruise by Swan Spirit Cruises starting at 6:30 pm.
A pancake breakfast beside the harbour will start off Sunday’s events. The final day of the festival will be highlighted by the oyster judging table at noon, where BC shellfish farmers submit their best oysters in a contest in search of BC’s Top Oyster. People can sample and vote for their favourite.
After judging there will be more music at centre stage, artisan booths, live shellfish sales, the Clansman Pipe Band and the whale singing contest. Snow said the contest was widely enjoyed last year. “You get to go up to the mic and make whale noises for 10 to 15 seconds,” she explained. “It was quite fun. There’s a prize for the winner.” A new event for 2012 is the call like a raven contest, which is similar to the whale singing contest.
On stage, Sunday’s performers will be River City Dixieland Band at 12:30 pm, Nancy Tyler at 2:15 pm and Cris Greenwell and Sue Dixon at 3:45 pm.
Snow said organizers are just waiting for approval from BC Transit, but if there is bus service this year, it will leave Town Centre Mall and go to Westview ferry terminal, stop at Willingdon Beach, Townsite and head out to the festival in Lund. It will arrive at 12:15 pm and leave again at about 4:30 pm.
For a full schedule of events and details, including tour details and cost, interested readers can visit the festival's website. Reservations are required ahead of time for tours.
