The 2025 BC Seafood Festival

Every June, Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley—anchored by the breathtaking slopes of Mount Washington Alpine Resort—comes alive as Western Canada’s premier seafood celebration descends on the mountains and shores of the region. This year, however, the highly anticipated June 20–22, 2025 festival has been postponed, leaving seafood aficionados eager for what’s next.
Read on to explore the festival’s rich legacy, understand its importance to visitors and the industry alike, and learn how you can stay connected with BC’s vibrant seafood community through upcoming pop‑ups and a potential autumn edition.

More

Less

Event Overview

• Original Dates: June 20 – 22, 2025
• Venue: Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC
• 2025 Status: Postponed due to industry‑wide economic challenges; organizers are planning local pop‑up tastings and exploring a fall 2025 edition.

A Storied History (Since 2006)

Humble Beginnings

• Launched in 2006 by the BC Shellfish Growers Association as a single dinner to showcase BC shellfish, the festival’s inaugural event drew a few hundred attendees eager to taste local oysters and learn about sustainable aquaculture.
• By 2012, a second public day was added, broadening focus to include crab, halibut, and other finfish—solidifying its transition to the BC Seafood Festival.

Milestones Over the Years

• 2019 (13th Edition): Featured celebrity-chef demos, shellfish tastings, and competitions like the Fanny Bay Oyster Shucking Contest—drawing over 4,000 visitors to Comox Valley.
• 2023 Celebrations: Marked 100+ BC‑harvested species on offer, along with new “Show Me Your Mussels!” sessions emphasizing mussels’ sustainability.
• 2024 Innovations: Introduced the “Bounty! Brunch Seafood Cookout” and educational mussel‑farming tours, further cementing the festival’s role as an industry incubator.

Why the BC Seafood Festival Is Unmissable

Festivals like the BC Seafood Festival do far more than showcase delicious dishes—they embody regional pride, spark culinary innovation, strengthen community bonds, and drive economic vitality, all while championing sustainability and industry collaboration.

Showcasing Local Excellence

Comox Valley is at the heart of British Columbia’s shellfish industry, producing over half of the province’s farmed oysters in the storied waters of Baynes Sound. Against this backdrop, the festival spotlights everything from geoduck to spot prawns, reinforcing Vancouver Island’s reputation for world‑class, Pacific‑fresh seafood.

More

Less

Culinary Creativity & Community Engagement

Attendees flock to hands‑on MasterClass workshops—think “Wild about Halibut!” and “The Art of the Seafood Breakfast Roll”—and watch celebrity chefs transform local catch into artful plates. Friendly competitions such as the Fanny Bay Oyster Shucking Contest and the Chowder Challenge invite professionals and amateurs alike to test their skills, fostering camaraderie and memorable moments for all ages. Evening after‑parties at alpine‑view patios and Ted’s Bar & Grill keep the energy high long after the last tasting station closes.

More

Less

Economic & Cultural Benefits

Local vendors, artisans, and small businesses see notable sales spikes during festival weekends, as thousands of visitors purchase fresh seafood, handcrafted goods, and regional fare directly from producers. Nearby accommodations—from boutique B&Bs to on‑mountain lodges—experience higher occupancy, while restaurants and retailers across the Comox Valley welcome a surge of new customers. Beyond one‑off bookings, many festivalgoers return year‑round to explore Vancouver Island’s natural beauty and culinary scene, reinforcing the region’s long‑term tourism appeal.

More

Less

Supporting the Seafood Industry

By bringing harvesters, chefs, distributors, and policymakers together, the festival creates networking and collaboration opportunities that drive product innovation and market expansion. Interactive aquaculture tours and chef‑led demos educate the public on sustainable practices, helping to build informed demand for responsibly sourced seafood and reinforcing BC’s leadership in transparent, eco‑friendly aquaculture.

More

Less

Sustainability & Advocacy

Modern iterations of the festival emphasize waste reduction—compostable serviceware, rigorous recycling programs, and low‑impact cooking demos are now standard. By featuring panel discussions on overfishing, habitat conservation, and first‑nation-led stewardship, the event doubles as a platform for public education and policy advocacy, ensuring that celebration goes hand‑in‑hand with long‑term ecosystem health.

More

Less

Looking Ahead: Passion in Spite of Postponement

While the June alpine tents remain silent, the festival’s heart beats on:

1. Pop‑Up Events

From sold‑out “Shucked Vancouver” oyster bars on Granville Island to intimate community tastings, these mini‑gatherings keep the buzz alive.

2. “Friends of the Festival”

Sign up for e‑blast updates to be the first to hear about fall‑2025 dates, ticket releases, and exclusive behind‑the‑scenes chef collabs.

3. Autumn Edition

Organizers aim to host a crisp‑air seafood showcase under golden maple leaves—details to be revealed late summer.

Disclaimer

Vanislander provides information for general reference only. We do not assume responsibility for any changes, cancellations, or modifications made by third parties. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official websites or social media channels of the respective organizers or businesses.

How You Can Stay Involved

Subscribe

Join the Friends of the Festival mailing list at bcseafoodfestival.com for pop‑up invites and festival news.

Support Local

Visit Comox Valley fish markets and restaurants championing BC catch—ask for wild halibut, geoduck, and spot prawns on menus.

Spread the Word

Share your favourite BC‑seafood memories with #BCSeafoodFest to keep community spirits high until we gather again.

While this year’s postponement is a pause in our story, it in no way diminishes the strength and spirit of British Columbia’s seafood community. Like the tides that shape our shores, we’re already gathering momentum—reimagining pop‑up gatherings, planning an autumn return, and deepening our commitment to sustainability and collaboration. When the BC Seafood Festival next graces the mountain slopes and Comox Valley shores, it will celebrate not only the finest flavours of the Pacific but the resilience, innovation, and collective passion that define our industry. We look forward to raising a glass—and an oyster knife—with you when the next chapter unfolds.

More

Less