After an unfortunate one-year hiatus, the Rotary Club of Osoyoos is bringing back the Lobster on the Beach event to the shores of beautiful Osoyoos Lake and the plan is to make this a can’t-miss event for years to come, said chief organizer Cheryle King.

The local Rotary Club held its inaugural Lobster on the Beach fundraiser back in September of 2012 as part of the short-lived Osoyoos Celebrates weekend event. The Lobster on the Beach event sold out quickly with more than 200 tickets sold.

Last year’s event had to be cancelled as organizers got a late start and advance ticket sales were not strong.

Having to cancel last year’s event wasn’t pleasant, but made Rotary Club members very aware that organization had to start much earlier this year and that’s exactly what has taken place, said King.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 13 under a huge white tent on the shores of Lake Osoyoos at Gyro Park in downtown Osoyoos.

“We’re just glad to be back and we have no doubt this will be a sell-out event once again this year,” said King. “We’ve already sold more than half of the available 240 tickets and they are selling quickly.”

Popular Global Television meteorologist Mark Madryga has been hired to be the Master of Ceremonies at this year’s Lobster on the Beach event.

All of the lobsters that will be served are coming directly from Prince Edward Island and won’t arrive in Osoyoos until the day before the event, said King.

Dan Adams, the owner of Joey’s Seafood Restaurant in Penticton and a longtime member of the Penticton Rotary Club, will be cooking the lobsters with assistance from local Rotary Club members.

Oliver Twist Winery and Squeezed Winery from Oliver will be providing the wine for the evening.

For those who don’t particularly enjoy lobster, they will have the option or ordering barbecue chicken as their main course, said King.

Proceeds from the Lobster on the Beach will go towards community programs supported by the Osoyoos Rotary Club, which has raised more than $180,000 for numerous community organizations and causes since its inception more than a decade ago, said King.

Parishioners from the Osoyoos Baptist Church have volunteered to serve dinner.

The evening will also include a silent auction and a dance following dinner.

King said the Osoyoos Rotary Club is determined to make this year’s event a success and ensure it will become a popular event each September for years to come.

“It’s a fun event and it’s a great way to get people together in September after most of the tourists have left town,” she said. “We had a great event two years ago and I have no doubt this year’s event will also be a great success.”

The inaugural event back in September of 2013 was a huge success and Rotary Club members were disappointed when last year’s event had to be cancelled, said King.

That’s why they got started early this year, she said.

Tickets are $60 apiece and can be purchased at Beyond Bliss in Oliver and Imperial Office Pro on Main Street in Osoyoos.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. A shuttle service will be offered to transport people home after the event.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times