Valentia Scallop Festival is here again… July 8th, 9th and 10th
IN a nut shell (or preferably a scallop shell!) it’s quite simply the best culinary and cultural celebration on the western fringe of Europe and this year it takes place on the 8th, 9th and 10th of July.
What am I referring to? Why, the Valentia Scallop Festival, of course, and all the splendour that comes with enjoying fine quality food, music and street entertainment - all set against the majestic span of the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the Valentia Scallop Festival is an ideal stop off, or starting point, for people exploring the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way: let’s face it, it’s not just about the scenery as there’s some pretty exquisite foods to sample too along the way and nothing tastes nicer than a few succulent pan fried scallops sourced with care and quality in mind.
The festival really has everything to offer as part of a great weekend: from foodies to families there is music and street entertainment, sporting pursuits, while the ‘Kids Aquathon’ on the Sunday afternoon is sure to be as popular as ever. Of course the grand finale is the King Scallop Competition 2016 when contestants are put through their paces in a challenge (though a fun packed one) to ‘cook off’ and see who can keep their cool, get the temperature right, and come up with the best scallops. This year’s judge will be John Casey. Two days of cooking demos and food sampling on the waterfront is a great treat and with over 2000 samples of delicious treats for you to savour, where else would you rather be that weekend?
The local restaurants and eateries of Knightstown really come alive over the weekend as they provide their own unique twist, each offering its own blend of ingredients and recipes that give every scallop its own taste. Valentia scallops are exported worldwide and this festival is a celebration of the commitment and pride involved in such an endeavour; it’s also a celebration of a local industry with strong cultural links which the people of Valentia have taken pride in for generations. So be sure to come along on July 8th, 9th and 10th and taste for yourself one of the many scallops sourced and prepared especially for you.