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Clayoquot Oyster Festival: Increasing Tofino's Population One Festival at a Time

On the west coast of Vancouver Island, you’ll find lush wilderness, awesome mountain vistas, the Clayoquot Sound, and the friendly confines of Tofino. Tofino is a location where you’ll find some of Western Canada's finest cuisine, abundant outdoor activities, and a friendly population that welcomes new people. The city is also home to a sustainable aquaculture industry of harvesting oysters. Each year over 50,000 gallons of oysters are harvested in Clayoquot Sound. This level of harvest means that the oyster industry has a lot of influence in the area. Each year the residents of Tofino pay tribute to the harvest and the industry with the Clayoquot Oyster Festival.

 

Beginning in 1997, the festival originated as a way to break up the cold winter season and to bring attention to the industry that supports the city in such a major way. Now the event is four days long and features a series of fun activities and events. Most of the events are catered to adults such as the Out Landish Oyster cocktail reception, the ever popular Mermaid's Masquerade costume party, and the Clayoquot Sound Oyster Gala. In addition, you can get an up close look at the oyster harvesting industry at Oysters Afloat, where you can tour an oyster farm and see how the harvest is accomplished. This festival is a fun and unique way to experience Tofino and Vancouver Island. Come for the unparalleled culinary creations and stay for the friendly community experience. Resortsandlodges.com inteviewed Event Representative, Ashley Adams, about this fun and unique Vancouver Island festival.

 

RAL: Tell me about the Clayoquot Oyster Festival.

AA: We are proud to say that this is the 19th Annual Clayoquot Oyster Festival. We average around 500 participants each year and the number keeps growing. We attract a wide range of people including foodies, adventurists, and coastal dwellers. Many come to the festival in large groups. Although the majority of the events aren’t yet family friendly, we’re working to include all ages in our festival that celebrates our favorite bivalve. Over the duration of the festival we aim to consume 10,000 oysters (putting that into perspective, we’re only a town of 1,500).

 

RAL: Take me through what attendees will experience during a typical day at the festival.

AA: This year we’re excited to have added a new cocktails competition to the Thursday night festivities. Friday night’s Mermaid’s Masquerade is basically a halloween party with all-you-can-eat fresh shucked oysters and great live music. Saturday’s activities include oyster farm tours (by boat or kayak) and the climax of the weekend, the Oyster Gala. This event includes wine and beer pairings, chef demonstrations, a chef oyster ‘cook off’ between several of our local culinary partners, and live music to complete the evening.

 

RAL: What will visitors find for local lodging?

AA: There are numerous options when coming to Tofino; 5-star hotels to cabins on the beach and everything in-between. I’d suggest checking with Tourism Tofino for the most updated list of accommodations. Make sure to plan in advance because several of the accommodation providers are sold out for the entire week. A few local establishments include Long Beach Lodge Resort, Wickaninnish Inn and the Tofino Lodge.

 

RAL: What does this festival mean to the community?

AA: The festival supports our local oyster farmers, restaurants, accommodation providers, and local entertainers. It’s the celebration of a sustainable fishery that we are particularly proud of. It’s also the opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate with each other. We’re a seasonal town and often we won’t get to see one another over our busy summer months. This is the chance to see some familiar faces, enjoy a few oysters, and have a very nice time.  

 

RAL: Why should people come to the Clayoquot Oyster Festival?

AA: This is really as West Coast as it gets. Expect sideways rain, unlimited oysters, and amazing times. It’s a nice opportunity for people to travel to Tofino at a different time of year and try all of our phenomenal food options at the same time and place. The views along the way aren’t too bad either!


For more information about the Clayoquot Oyster Festival please visit their website.