2023-01-25

Oh, for the love of lobster!

SOUTH SHORE – Mmmm....mouth-watering, scrumptious, tasty, divine, melt-in-your mouth lobster.

Take some time and think about it.

What a great reason to celebrate! Here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia we are fortunate to have some of the best lobster fishing grounds in the world and in February everyone is invited to celebrate our crustacean in as many ways as you can possibly think and some, that you would never think of.

The lobster industry in 2021-2022 recorded $3.26 billion in exports. The highest ever. Another great reason to celebrate.

The fifth annual Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, hosted by the South Shore Tourism Cooperative (SSTC), is taking place throughout February and activities, sports, food, arts and crafts, music, stay and play packages and contests celebrating the lobster are taking place from Barrington to Peggy's Cove and all points in between.

The Lobster Crawl was an initiative of the SSTC created back in 2018 for a couple of reasons, to promote the South Shore as a year-round destination and to celebrate lobster. The SSTC is an umbrella-type hub for the event as businesses and organizations register and promote what they are doing during the month to celebrate lobster.

Stephanie Miller Vincent, co-ordinator of the host cooperative in an interview Jan. 19 that at that point, 60 businesses registered in this year's event featuring more than 120 events, with more and more businesses registering each day.

"We're really so excited to get back outside and do things as groups," she said. "Not only are we celebrating the fifth anniversary, but we've been kind of cooped up for so long. Call it revenge tourism."

For the last couple of years, events were held, but gathering limits due to COVID-19 were enforced.

This year's list of events starts off Feb. 2 with Lucy the Lob'Star coming out of the water on Groundhog Day to predict how much longer winter will be. That will take place at the Cape Sable Island Causeway. People are welcome to attend in person, but it will also be streamed live on the Lobster Crawl Facebook page.

Three days later, Feb. 5 the lobster roll competition will take place, always a fan favourite at the Best Western in Cookville this year. Twelve restaurants, including former winners, 27 South, Captain Kat's and Osprey's Nest Public House will try and hold off some former participants and new entries such as The Emerald Light in Shelburne and the Salt Banker from Cape Sable Island.

This year's judges will include lobster lovers Jennifer Dallas, a freelance writer and blogger based in Montreal; Hilary Nangle, a full-time freelance writer and editor from Maine; Wolfgang Greiner, a freelance travel and sports writer and photographer from Germany; and local Heather Jeffers, winner of the first Lob'STAR contest, who will be a guest judge.

The Lob'STAR contest was held this year to choose a guest judge.

"People keep asking us how do I get to be a judge for the lobster roll-off competition," said Miller Vincent. "So this year we had a contest where people could submit short auditions telling us why they should become a judge."

Following this, the variety and number of events are incredible, from food promotions to concerts to walks, to colouring contests and so much more.

Along with many old favourites such as the Craft Beer Festival being held at the Best Western Plus in Bridgewater Feb. 18, there are several events making their debut this year, such as the kite flying and show featuring Tidekite from Clare, at the Privateer Park in Liverpool on Feb. 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. People are invited to come and fly one of 100+ kites available or just come and watch at no cost.

Another new event is the Captured by the Crew photo contest which has been ongoing, and the photos are featured on the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl Facebook page.

"We've always wanted the lobster fishing industry to be involved. As much as this is about bringing people to the businesses on the South Shore, it's also about celebrating the industry," said Miller Vincent. "It was suggested this was the perfect way to get them involved. they are so busy and it so great to see the photos because it gives us a view that not many of us get to see."

Winners of the photo contest will get to choose one of two jackets from Vernon D'Eon Fishing Supplies in Shelburne. The winner will be announced at the Tail End fishing party Feb. 24 at the Old Fish Factory on the final Friday of February.