Penn Cove Mussel Festival
When: March 1-3
Where: Coupeville Recreation Hall in Coupeville on Whidbey Island
What: Events include a Mussel Mingle, Mussel Hustle, mussel-cooking demonstrations, mussel farm tours, mussel chowder tasting, mussel-eating competition and children’s seaside activities.
The mingle: This will take place 5:30-8:30 p.m. March 1 at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. Get tickets for $20 at the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce, the Bayleaf and Aqua Gifts. Participants enjoy some treats and drinks.
Event highlights: There will be mussel-cooking demonstrations at the rec hall, with local and regional chefs who will prepare various dishes with mussels. Visitors can take part in the Mussel Chowder Tasting Route. For $10, you can sample local chefs’ takes on mussel chowder at more than a dozen eateries. Mussel farm tours ($10) will leave from the Coupeville Wharf. Go aboard the Glacier Spirit and visit the Penn Cove Shellfish Farm. The free Mussel Shuttle runs a continuous loop from downtown Coupeville out to the Captain Whidbey Inn and back along the prairie to the South Main Street participating restaurants.
Other activities: A mussel-eating competition ($5) will be held at March 2-3 at the rec hall. The winner is the first person to consume five 16-ounce cups of mussels. Children can listen to seaside stories and make mussel both days at the Island County Historical Society Museum. There will be a Mussel Hustle scavenger hunt for families.
Cost: Free, but there is a charge for some events.
Information: 360-678-5434 or go to thepenncovemusselfestival.com.
Jeffrey P. Mayor, jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com
