Lobster Crawl kicks off with Lucy the Lobster’s Groundhog Day prediction
After a year's absence due to the COVID pandemic, Lucy the Lobster headed back to her weather-predicting lobster trap on Groundhog Day to start off a month long ‘shellabration' of everything lobster on the South Shore.
The fourth Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl – an annual event before being sidelined by COVID – will take place during the month of February. Numerous businesses and organizations along the South Shore from Peggy's Cove through to Barrington will be offering special getaways, events and tasty lobster dishes. A star attraction of the Lobster Crawl each year is Lucy.
This year, Lucy's Groundhog Day weather prediction on the North East Point waterfront was organized as a virtual event, said Suzy Atwood, director of Marketing and Tourism Development for the Municipality of Barrington.
The 8 a.m. event was being livestreamed and could be viewed live, or in replay, on the Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl Facebook page.
Lucy had been at the Xsealent Seafoods spa on
Cape Sable Island, said Atwood, awaiting her debut. “She will likely transfer to her other spa at Capt. Kat's after her big debut on Feb. 2. I've been told she's doing wonderful and is relaxing in style.”
Cailin O'Neil, of Nova Scotia Explorer, was hosting this year's event.
“I am beyond honoured to be able to host this years event. I can't wait to meet the lovely Lucy as she comes back from her hiatus,” said O'Neil. “Fingers crossed she predicts an early spring.”
O'Neil said this would be her first time meeting a weather predicting lobster.
“It's actually my first time meeting any kind of weather predicting animal, however I have always dreamed of meeting Punxsutawney Phil someday too," she said.
Lucy's escapades will continue throughout the month with a 'Find Lucy the Lobster' contest at participating businesses in Barrington Municipality and the Town of Clark's Harbour, sponsored by the Barrington and Area Chamber of Commerce.
Atwood said with the onset of the new COVID variant and the provincial restrictions on gathering limits, many events happening for this year's crawl will be virtual, although there are outside adventures planned.
“We are planning on a Songs of the Sea music series if time and restrictions allow, and perhaps some self-guided tours on the Nature Trail that are lobster inspired,” said Atwood. “It's been difficult to plan these events this year given the current guidelines.”
The Barrington Museum Complex is also planning a number of workshops and events including a lobster chowder take-out on Feb. 12, a virtual Historic Barrington
Photo Scavenger Hunt, and if COVID restrictions allow, some in-person knitting classes.
“We really are encouraging people to get out and explore the South Shore, eat Nova Scotia Lobster and enjoy all that is open up and down the South Shore in the winter time,” Atwood said.
O'Neil, who is a travel blogger and content creator, is one of the volunteers who served on the Lobster Crawl committee this year and has been “helping the festival however they might need me," she said.
O'Neil will also be attending many of the lobster crawl events and doing a scavenger hunt. “I'll be posting on the Lobster Crawl and South Shore Tourism social media accounts and hiding fun Lobster Crawl related things around for people to find and win. I will also be eating as many delicious Nova Scotian lobster rolls as possible," she said.
One of the signature events of the Lobster Crawl is the
Lobster Roll-off Competition where top South Shore chefs vie for the title of best lobster roll.
The Lobster Crawl was launched in 2018 to demonstrate that while the region is definitely a popular summer destination, it is also a great region to warm up to during winter too, said Joanne Cooper, general manager of Best Western Bridgewater and chairperson of South Shore Tourism Cooperative.
“Our restaurants, tap rooms, distilleries and vineyards, galleries, accommodations, shops and attractions, are open in the winter months and don't forget, our beaches and trails are just as beautiful, maybe even more so in the winter, you just need to dress for it,” Cooper said in a media release.
Organizers say creating and hosting the festival in February was intentional and strategic. It's a time when businesses traditionally needed an extra boost and was a natural fit with the region's lobster season.
While the international appetite and appeal of lobster is used to attract attention, South Shore Tourism Cooperative's Coordinator Stephanie Miller Vincent says it's just the bait.
“Our businesses have become very creative in using lobster as an excuse to motivate and entice their customers to embrace winter and enjoy it” said Miller Vincent. “It's been exciting to see tap rooms and vineyards partnering with local restaurants and artists to create new, handson, ‘sip, savour, make and take' workshops and experiences."
“Local hiking groups are planning guided tours that take you on trails you'll enjoy from a different perspective. Our B&B's, resorts and hotels are bundling up packages for overnight getaways that will blend Lobster Crawl with Valentine's Day and Heritage Day Weekend themes.”
More information about the lobster crawl can be found online at www.lobstercrawl. ca.