‘They really need that support’
Lobster Crawl kicks off on the South Shore
There’s some disappointing news from the South Shore for those seeking the prediction of an early spring from a creature emerging from its winter lair.
On the chilly morning of Feb. 2, Lucy the Lobster crawled out of the sea in Barrington, touted as the Lobster Capital of Canada, and sat on her lobster trap, announcing to a virtual audience she did indeed see her shadow.
But Suzy Atwood and the annual Lobster Crawl festival organizers are still in the mood to celebrate. Lucy’s appearance and prediction also kicked off the 2022 Lobster Crawl. The festival was cancelled last year due to COVID restrictions.
“This year, she saw her shadow, so there are six more weeks of winter. And however you feel about that, we say let’s ‘shell-ebrate’ the winter season and come explore the South Shore,” Atwood, director of marketing and tourism development for the Municipality of Barrington, said during a recent interview.
Atwood said the annual month-long festival during February, first held in 2018, is a promotion designed to attract visitors to the area during the heart of the lobster fishing season.
“It really was a way to get people out and about exploring the South Shore of Nova Scotia in an off time, during what is not really known as a tourist season per say. Nobody asks if we are open in the summer. But we often get asked if we are open in the winter. And we wanted to send that message that, yes, our businesses are open in the winter and we would love for you to come visit us,” Atwood said.
“The importance of this festival is to get the people out and about during the winter months and support the local economy. They really need that support. Even more so because of what’s been happening in the last two years.”
Stephanie Miller Vincent, the South Shore Tourism Cooperative co-ordinator, said more than 40 businesses
stretching across the South Shore from Barrington to Peggy’s Cove are on board with festival organizers offering more than 80 experiences and accommodation packages, aimed to attract people considering staycations who don’t have to travel long distances.
“Because we know people are not venturing too far from home right now,” Miller Vincent said.
“Staycationers need not look far for inspiration to get out and crawl along Nova Scotia’s South Shore in February," Miller Vincent said,
adding, “our local businesses are more than ready to welcome guests safely.”
“We have geared this festival around what the Public Health regulations are currently. Our restaurants have been following COVID protocols for almost two years now as have any of the other businesses that are open. They may be able to seat less people because of those regulations, but they are following all of those protocols,” Miller Vincent said.
Festival-goers can participate in a range of activities, including a sharpie sketch
night, hand knitting a lobster toque or lobster claw mittens, as well as outdoor adventures, including a walk on the beaches or trails and even family skates and a scavenger hunt. And they can enjoy chocolate wine pairing tastings and dine on dozens of lobster-infused and lobsterthemed dishes, including the famous lobster roll.
Organizers said Crustacean Elation, Saltbox Brewery’s lobster-infused craft beer, is back by popular demand.
Andrew Tanner is the founder of the Saltbox Brewing Company, a craft brewery on the South Shore with three locations in Mahone Bay, Bridgewater and Lunenburg.
“… anything we can do to support growth in that winter timeframe is great for us. It creates foot traffic and tourist traffic that we otherwise would not see,” Tanner said of the festival.
“It also helps us promote the Crustacean Elation product. And that has generated lots of online orders and inperson visits. People are asking, ‘What is this lobster beer all about? I want to taste it,’” Tanner said.
Organizers said in a release the website lobstercrawl.ca is the hive for the festival, offering overnight packages at cottages, hotels and resorts as well as B&BS. You can even order your own Lobster Crawl customized lobster dinner to be delivered to your door virtually anywhere in Canada from Your Lobster Pot.