King Scallop Festival time in Valentia
IT’S that one weekend in the year when everything good about local tradition, the sea, and what it has to offer is celebrated with the declaration of knowing Valentia is a proud community and a great place to live.
Valentia scallops are exported worldwide and the festival is a celebration of the commitment and pride involved in this enterprise over several generations. Essentially, it’s a celebration of a local industry with strong cultural links which the people of Valentia are proud of.
This year’s King Scallop Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 19-20 when all the splendour that comes with enjoying quality food, music and lots of street entertainment - set against the majestic span of the Atlantic Ocean - is the visitor’s reward.
KIDS TALENT SHOW
On Saturday there will be a kid’s talent show hosted by local comedian Bernard Casey. Of course this event will be punctuated by scallop stalls along the waterfront on Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 2-6pm – something guaranteed to leave your palate in ecstasy.
LIVE MUSIC
Knightstown’s restaurants, eateries and pubs also get in on the festival act providing their own unique twist and blend of ingredients and recipes that give every individual scallop its own unique taste. Live music is another staple of the festival and this adds immensely to the overall visitor experience. The trad band Bansha Boys will perform on Saturday from 4-6pm, while Sunday sees Celtic Vibe take to the stage, also from 4-6pm.
The whole weekend in jammed packed full of entertainment as the Island comes alive in celebration of family, friends and visitors who feast on fresh Valentia Island king scallops, cooked in ways you never thought possible. Taste is the primary aim here and you won’t be disappointed.
The entertainment that builds up around the festival is in itself a standalone affair: live music on the festival stage, the annual Raft Race and the ‘End of Summer Harbour Party’ are top attractions, bake sale, pop up shop, bouncing castles and much more. The Children’s Duathlon – a swim followed by a run – has grown in popularity in recent years and it’s likely to be more of the same competitive fun this year.