By Times Chronicle Staff
The much loved and equally missed Osoyoos Oyster Festival is returning next month on April 19-20 with two events guaranteed to please fans of fine wine and the briny delight of fresh oysters.
The well-attended event that’s been a key facet of the annual festive calendar in Osoyoos for over a decade was put on pause during the pandemic and revived this year through a collaboration of several partners and under the umbrella of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce. The partners include Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association, the Times Chronicle, Walnut Beach Resort, the Osoyoos Golf Club and Codfathers Seafood Market.
“We are thrilled to help welcome back the popular Osoyoos Oyster Festival,” says Jennifer Busmann, executive director of Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. “Our region is known for exciting event collaborations and this one kick-starts the 2024 summer season with some fantastic partners, delicious food and wine and live entertainment.”
The festival had its origins as the signature event of Walnut Beach Resort in 2011. Walnut Beach GM, Jared Sissons commented: “The Walnut Beach Resort is very proud to again be hosting the main event for the Osoyoos Oyster Festival. This year’s Pearls in the Desert Gala promises to be a night filled with wonder and glitz. We look forward to welcoming you.”
Aside from fulfilling the gustatory pleasures of pairing local wines with fresh West Coast oysters by Kelowna’s CodFathers Seafood Market and dishes by local chefs the event also serves to bolster the local economy by bringing in visitors from far and wide.
“Because of the economic situation, local businesses really are in need of more shoulder season events, to start the busy season earlier,” said Sherani Theophilus, organizer of the 2024 Osoyoos Oyster Festival.
“We eventually want to see a full social calendar of events all year-round for both visitors and locals alike.”
The event is also supported by the Town of Osoyoos which helped with seed funding of $5,000 to restart the event through Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding.
The event is split over two days with the first evening on Friday, April 19 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Osoyoos Golf Club seeing the casual “Shuck & Sip” evening of oysters and wine sampling to the accompaniment of live acoustic music. Award-winning wines from local vineyards will include Kismet Estate Winery, Nostalgia Wines, Nk’Mip Cellars, Gold Hill Winery and Road 13 Vineyards. Tickets are $75 per guest plus tax.
The next night on Saturday, April 20 from 5-9:30 p.m. will feature the “Pearl in the Desert” gala at Walnut Beach Resort while the sun sets over stunning Osoyoos Lake. ‘Bubbles” and other wines from Oliver Osoyoos wine country wineries – River Stone Winery, Moon Curser Vineyards, Culmina Estate Winery, Gold Hill Winery, Nostalgia Wines, Kismet Estate Winery just to name a few will be served.
The culinary centrepiece will be an “Oyster Bar of Plenty” presented by Codfathers, and guests can enjoy Okanagan-inspired canapés, a decadent pasta bar and live entertainment throughout the evening. Tickets for this event are $150 per guest plus tax.
Tickets for both events are available on the event website, osoyoosoysterfestival.com.
