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Apollo Bay Seafood Festival is back with a twist this February, dishing up more than just excellent fish and chips (although they do have that in spades too.) Where the event usually consists of three or more days of large-scale events celebrating all things seafood, this year COVID has them taking a more intimate route.
Aptly titled a ‘Summer of Seafood’, the festival includes a series of COVID friendly events dotted throughout February. Think freshly caught local seafood – from mussels to oysters, Southern Rock Lobster to blue-eye trevalla – as well as informative conversations, and one helluva party.
The most low-key event, a relaxed lunch on the deck of the Apollo Bay Fisherman’s Coop, is sadly sold out but features tastings of squid, octopus and other fresh catches alongside craft beer by Prickly Moses and other local wines from festival partners. But don’t be disheartened, there is more seafood-fun to be had.
The SOS End of Summer Block Party on February 27th is where thing’s get really epic. Here, live DJ sets, local bands and the finest food come together in one family-friendly event. Punters can munch on giant paella pans from the team at ORA Coffee Bar, smoked meats from Sticks and Bones BBQ, Abalone Pizzas from the team at the Distillery and seafood specials at The Brewhouse. All the while being serenaded by local acts BEANS, Bones and Jones, The Beachniks, Libby Steel, The Fillmores, Outtatime, The Rank Outsiders and Jarosite Band.
For those who fancy an education on all things underwater, Conversations 2021: Underwater – Underfoot is the place to be. The one-day event features talks with local fishermen about the wild year that was 2020, as well as a discussion with Simon Branigan from The Nature Conservancy Australia about a new partnership bringing shellfish reefs back from the brink of extinction.
In the afternoon they’ll be chats about Country, fire management, the year that has been and what we can all learn from it with paleoecologist and biogeographer Michael-Shawn Fletcher and scientist and conservation ecologist Dr. Jack Pascoe. That’s on February 13th with extremely limited places available, so get booking!
Despite this year’s event being smaller than usual, there is so much happening. For locals who love to fish there’s the Fish of the Summer competition, and for folks who enjoy oysters be sure to get to The True Story of Oysters and Champagne night hosted by our very own food writer Richard Cornish along with Max Allen.
For the full line up of events and more information, head to Apollo Bay Seafood Festival’s website. We’ll see ya there.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: Summer of Seafood
WHERE: Apollo Bay
WHEN: February 13th – 27th
MORE INFO: Apollo Bay Seafood Festival