By Times Chronicle Staff
The much-anticipated fixture of the South Okanagan’s spring events calendar is returning this April 11-12 with the Osoyoos Oyster Festival bringing buckets of succulent west coast B.C. oysters to town.
The annual event featuring fresh briny delights along with culinary creations and paired with superb local wines is expected to draw even larger crowds than last year, according to organizers who say this is indicative of just how dearly this event has been missed after a brief hiatus.
The event had its origins as the signature event of Walnut Beach Resort from 2011 and returned last year after a brief pause, drawing food and wine lovers to the two key events under the festival umbrella.
Organizers have brought forward the same “something for everyone” format as last year, with a casual “Sip & Shuck” event at the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club on Friday, April 11, 5-7 p.m. and “The Black Pearl Gala” held at Walnut Beach Resort on Saturday, April 12, 6-9:30 p.m.
“Last year, we successfully brought back the festival, thanks to a grant from the Town of Osoyoos, and we had great feedback from guests who we can’t wait to welcome again,” said Sherani Theophilus, organizer and publisher of the Times Chronicle newspaper.
“We are getting better every year with this signature April festival to kick off our busy season. These are two unique, vibrant events which highlight our stunning scenery, amazing venues and rich winemaking heritage.” For the first time, this year will include an award-winning local distiller at the Gala, she added.
The Sip & Shuck event will take over the Greenside Bar and Grill at the Osoyoos Golf and Country Club, offering a larger venue than last year due to its overwhelming popularity. Enjoy oysters freshly shucked on the spot by Kelowna’s Codfathers Seafood Market and appetizers served up by the culinary team at the Osoyoos Golf Club.
Award-winning wines will be available from Kismet Estate Winery, Gold Hill Winery, Intersection Estate Winery, Nostalgia Wines, River Stone Estate Winery, Nk’Mip Cellars and Domaine Artema Winery while Don Brogan will set the ambience with live acoustic music.
“We are thrilled to host the Osoyoos Oyster Festival at Osoyoos Golf Club,” said Bryan Ewart, General Manager of Osoyoos Golf Club. “This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible seafood, wine, and hospitality that make our region so special. We look forward to welcoming guests for an unforgettable evening of great flavours, live entertainment, and stunning views.”
On Saturday, April 12, it will be Walnut Beach Resort’s turn to impress with The Black Pearl Gala.
Taking place in the Pointe 49° Kitchen & Bar, lobby lounge area and poolside (weather permitting), this elegant evening features succulent oysters shucked on the spot by Codfathers along with unique canapés created specially for the event by Walnut Beach’s new Executive Chef Darien Rozsahegyi.
The hugely popular pasta station will return this year for the entire evening, enabling guests to enjoy custom-made pasta dishes.
Pairing with this sumptuous spread will be local award-winning cocktails and wines from Osoyoos’ own Tumbleweed Spirits, Kismet Estate Winery, Gold Hill Winery, Intersection Estate Winery, Nostalgia Wines, Nk’Mip Cellars and Burrowing Owl Estate Winery.
A renowned DJ will set the mood, and if last year was any indication, dancing will surely break out.
“We chose a new theme to design this year’s event around and showcase our team,” comments Jared Sissons, General Manager at Walnut Beach Resort. “The Black Pearl Gala promises to be an enchanting evening for all the senses.”
Organizers note that the event also serves to bolster the local economy by bringing in visitors from far and wide during the shoulder season for tourism in Osoyoos.
“We at Destination Osoyoos are thrilled to see Osoyoos Oyster Festival back on and appreciate the immense work the volunteers have done to try to re-build Oysterfest from the earlier years of success,” said Kelley Glazer, Executive Director of Destination Osoyoos.
She noted the devastating impact COVID had on so many tourism products and experiences that either completely shut down some festivals and events or resulted in a very slow return to pre-COVID numbers. She nevertheless remains upbeat on this year’s outlook.
“I am very optimistic that we will have a very strong tourism year this year, and we are already seeing signs of that through earlier than normal bookings and more people visiting our community for Spring Break.
“We have worked diligently to improve our shoulder periods and spring has been the more robust of the shoulder seasons over the last few years. I encourage everyone to check out the new Osoyoos Oyster Festival and help build it to be a signature event for Osoyoos.”
And given the ongoing “tariff war” that is being waged against Canada, it’s also a perfect opportunity to support products and producers from British Columbia. Oysters and wine are, of course but two of the products caught up in the blanket tariffs being arbitrarily imposed by the Trump regime.
The organizers noted the event is made possible by the Town of Osoyoos with a $4,000 Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) grant, a $1,000 donation by the Osoyoos Credit Union (OCU) and support from the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, Destination Osoyoos, Codfathers Seafood Market and the Times Chronicle.
Commenting on the timing of the event, Ryan Duffy, President of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, said, “We continue to hear from our local business community that they would like to see more shoulder season activities and April is a perfect time for this type of event in our region.
“Our Chamber team is happy to be supporting the Osoyoos Oyster Festival again this year as it is a great opportunity for collaboration with many businesses, members, and volunteers working together to put on a great weekend.”
“We encourage locals and visitors alike to make plans to attend,” Theophilus said, adding, “The festival is a great way to support local businesses and enjoy the best of the BC.”
The ticket price for Sip & Shuck is $75 per guest plus tax, and The Black Pearl Gala is $125.
Tickets for both events are available on the event website, osoyoosoysterfestival.com.
For more information, contact [email protected].
