Early spring says Lucy the Lobster
Alittle nor'easter didn't keep Lucy thelobsteroffhergroundhogday prediction perch on Feb. 2, but it did keep her closer to her spa.
"We're here at (Capt. Kat's) Lobster Shack, home of Lucy the Lobster," said Lucy's handler Suzy Atwood, director of tourism and marketing for the Municipality of Barrington. "She lives in the spa and because of the storm, she's a little bitofa divathis morning. She didn't want to go to the causeway where there is lots of snow and ice. She wanted to stay a little bit warmer this morning."
To chants of "Early spring! Early spring!" Lucywas carriedouttoher weather-predicting perch.
"Itis official. She does notsee her shadow, so an earlyspring," said Atwood to cheers from the crowd.
This year, Lucy's Groundhog Day colleague Shubenacadie Sam satouttheannual tradition.witha forecast ofblowing snow and poor driving conditions in his part of the province, the Groundhog Day event involving Nova Scotia's infamous groundhog was cancelled in advance of Groundhog Day.
Much ofsouthwestern Nova Scotia was spared the harsh weather that other parts of the province received; however, Lucy's prediction of an early spring did come on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Groundhog Day storm that h ad h eavily impacted the region with flooding and destruction.
Lucy's Groundhog Day predictionkickedoffthe Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl, which isa month-long celebration of winter, the lobster season, and other things that make the South Shore special.
"Winter does not stop the Lobst er Crawl," said Atwood . "The Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl celebrates our lobster season, which is important to the Lobster Capital of Canada (Municipality of Barrington) and the South Shore. It's the backbone ofour economy and we love lobster."
Thisisthe ninthyearforthe Nova Scotia Lobst er Craw l. An initiative of the South Shore Tourism Cooperative (SSTC) , the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl was started in 2018. Held every February, a multitude of events and experiences that showcase the r egion's food, culture, and hospitality areheld atvenuesalong the South Shore , helping build sustainable winter tourism for communities along the coast.
This year's culinary competitions included a Feb. 3 signature Lobster Roll-offatthequarterdeckresort in Summerville Centre, Queens County, and the Lobster Chowder Chowdown Showdownbeinghosted by the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, Shelburne County, on Feb. 8. They are both sold-out events, said SSTC coordinator Stephanie Miller-vincent.
"There are 153 events listed on the event calendar oflobstercrawl. ca with more being added daily," said Vincent.
A number of new events are on the calendar this year, including a two-kilometre Coastal Crawl fun run/ walk on the Stoney Island Beach on Cape Sable Island, scheduled for Feb.14 at 11 a.m.
In Lockcport, the Kiltcd Chef (Alain Bosse) will b e coming to Town on Feb. 21 to share some savoury seafood and blueberry creations, joining more than 30 local vendors for a Nova Scotia Loyal Pop-up Lobster Crawl Market event from 11 a.m. to 3 pm. at the Lockeport Fire Hall.
Duringthe month, lobster fishers from the area are being invited to catch and save their largest lobster for a grand weigh-in for the largest lobster during the popup market event. The winnerwill getbragging rights and naming rights for Lockeport's newest resident- a mermaid, which is a new tourism attraction coming soon.
On F eb. 21 at the Lockeport Beach Information Centre there will also be a premiere scr eening of the Silver Surfers documentary film called "Surfing the End of the World," which h as b een nominated for a Canadian short film festival award. It is about 20 minutes in length and will play at 11 a.m . and 1 p.m. Non-perishable food items will be collect ed by the door s at both events for the Lockeport Food Bank.
A Lobster Boil in Liverpool, a collaboration b etween Hell Bay Brewin g and Lobsta on da Rocks, the return ofthe From the Sea Design Chall enge in Chester, the Captured by the Crew photo contest, and the Tail Endpartyon Feb. 28in Lunenburg at the Shipwright Brewing Companyfrom 1:30 to 3:30p.m. are amongthe otherevents and activities during the Lobster Crawl.