BC EVENTS
MAY-JUNE
Spot Prawn Mania British Columbia
Wild BC spot prawns are a delicacy famous for their sweet flavor and firm texture, but they’re only available live at the peak of freshness during a short harvest season, which this year begins May 3 and lasts anywhere from six to eight weeks. The Spot Prawn Festivals first began in Vancouver as an initiative of the Chefs’ Table Society and have grown into a province-wide celebration.
May 5 False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf, Vancouver, B.C.
May 12 & 13 Cowichan Bay Harbour, Cowichan, Vancouver Island, B.C.
June 2 The Cove Resort, Kelowna, B.C.
June 16 Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Sunshine Coast, B.C.
MAY 17-21
Meadowlark Nature Festival, South Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, B.C. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, the festival has evolved into one of Canada’s premier outdoor nature celebrations, with more than 80 environmental tours and events, and attracting people from across North America and Europe who come to enjoy the activities led by prominent naturalists, educators, artists, experienced guides, and scientists. For more information visit www.meadowlarkfestival.bc.ca.
MAY 18-JUNE 2
Feast B.C., Tofino & Ucluelet, B.C.
Set your sights this spring on Vancouver Island’s Long Beach. The area is spectacularly scenic, from the fishing villages of Tofino in the north to Ucluelet in the south, and is hosting a month of food and wine events in celebration of the area’s prodigious seafood bounty. Multiple restaurants are featuring guest chefs and special menus showcasing the region’s bounteous boat-to-table cuisine.
JUNE 1-3
EAT! Vancouver Food & Cooking Festival Vancouver, B.C.
Taste, sample, and shop at more than 250 vendors showcasing a huge variety of food, beverage, and cooking-related products. This is the 10th annual incarnation of this signature festival, offering literally hundreds of different experiences each day, from food crafter stalls to chef lectures, ingredients sampling, and learning seminars. Watch celebrity chef cooking demonstrations on the Food Network stage (including celebrity chefs and foodies Rob Feenie, Annabelle Waugh, David Rocco, and Bob Blumer) and learn about cheese, wine, and ethnic foods from international cuisine experts. Check in on the 2012 Western Regional Barista Championships, or slake your thirst at the Wine, Beer, and Spirits Pavilion, hosted by The Wine Diva, Deanna Van Mulligan.
JUNE 10
Island Chef Food Fest, Victoria, B.C.
Held at Fort Rodd Hill, the Island Chef Food Fest will include more than 60 local food producers and chefs. Organized by the Island Chef’s Collaborative, the fest raises awareness on the issues and challenges of food production and sustainability on Vancouver Island.
JUNE 15-16
B.C. Shellfish Festival, Comox, B.C.
The largest shellfish festival on Canada’s West Coast, this unique his event features local and regional chefs creating special shellfish dishes, and includes an oyster shucking competition and Chowder Challenge along with cooking demos from featured chefs.
JULY 19-22
Taste, Victoria, B.C.
Now in its fourth year, Taste has become Victoria’s premier festival of food and wine. Kicking off with a grand tasting of more than 100 British Columbia wines paired with offerings from Vancouver Island’s leading chefs, the feast/fest continues through the weekend with a myriad of seminars, tastings, and local food showcases. Meet farmers and food crafters, and experience the best of West Coast cuisine at the height of summer in B.C.’s Garden City.