Quick! What are the top three things that come to mind when you hear “Nova Scotia, Canada”? For us, it’s breathtaking scenery, friendly people, and food! One food, in particular, is so fresh and popular here, it’s fished 365 days a year and there's even an entire month dedicated to it - the almighty LOBSTER! 🦞
Districts around the province fish this delicious crustacean at different times of the year. In Nova Scotia’s South Shore, the lobster fishing sea-son runs from the end of November to May 31st. It’s along this beautiful coastline, from Barrington (the lobster capital of Canada) to Peggys Cove, that brave fisher folk work the frigid winter seas to bring back lobster goodness for all. Here, the official big “shell-ebration” takes place in February and is called The Lobster Crawl Festival! But the real kickoff to lobster festivities takes place in November when the fishing season begins with Dumping Day and the events surrounding it.
What is Dumping Day?
Dumping day takes place (Mother Nature willing) on the last Monday of November on Nova Scotia’s South Shore (LFA 33 & 34) when the lobster fishers dump their traps for the first catch of a long-anticipated season. This day is both the most important and dangerous day of the fishing year because boats are so loaded down with traps.
What is Lobster Crawl?
Nova Scotia’s South Shore Lobster Crawl is a tasty month-long event to SHELL-ebrate the love of lobster!
Where: Along the entire South Shore, from Barrington (the lobster Capital of Canada) to Peggy’s Cove and all the ports in between
When: All February - aka peak lobster season along the South Shore
Events: There are all kinds of lobster events including a lobster roll-off, lobster getaway packages, concerts, community lobster dinners, shell-fie opportunities with Lucy the Lob-star (The South Shore’s version of a groundhog on groundhog day), and so much more.
So let your excitement boil over!
Here are some ways you can celebrate Dumping Day — the prelude to Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl.
1. Visit a Lobster Trap Christmas Tree
In the week leading up to Dumping Day, as the Christmas Holidays begin, communities along the South Shore celebrate the SEAson in a unique way by creating Lobster Trap (or Buoy) Christmas trees. It doesn’t get more “East Coast” than this! Lobster traps (also called lobster pots) are stacked high and decorated with colourful buoys and twinkling lights, a tradition that has grown from community to community over the years. These nautical installments aren’t just beautiful things to see and photograph though, they’re also created to celebrate and pay tribute to fishermen and women lost at sea, those that have since passed on, and those who still fish the waters of Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline today. This heartwarming display can be witnessed by reading the names painted on buoys hanging from the trees or meeting family members that visit the trees to honour them. It’s a way of bringing communities together during this time of year and reminding everyone of the importance, dangers, and celebrations of the lobster fishing industry here.
A particular event we recommend attending is the Visit Barrington Lobster Trap Christmas Tree Lighting where they have a fireworks display! Other lobster trap Christmas Tree locations include: Lunenburg, Port Mouton, Sandy Point, Dennis Point
2. Indulge in Lobster & Seafood Delights
The best way to celebrate your love for lobster - is by eating lobster! The South Shore really is a string of foodie communities, each offering fun restaurants, and cafes to indulge in all your seafood desires. From lobster poutine to lobster rolls, seafood chowder to lobster-shaped cookies - you won’t go hungry here! Not-to-miss spots include Capt. Kats in Barrington, The Emerald Light in Shelburne, The Grill at the Quarter Deck, The Ships Galley Pub and Eatery, and the Anchors Away Family Restaurant. Want lunch with a view? Grab a lobster roll to go and head to a local beach or wharf! You’re never far from an ocean picnic opportunity around these parts.
3. Stay in a Cozy Accommodation
November weather can be chilly but don’t worry, the hospitality is always warm — so why not visit and stay a while? Nova Scotia’s South Shore is a gorgeous spot to plan a little getaway by the sea. This region is a four-season destination after all! See postcard-perfect views of lighthouses, colourful fishing towns, sandy beaches, and charming places to stay. If resorts with pools are your thing, check out White Point or The Quarter Deck! If you love a warm and modern inn, check out Salty Shores or the Starboard Inn. And, if you love cozy cottages where you have a full kitchen to cook to your heart’s content, check out Seaside Cottages at Ginger Hill or Boulder Cove Cottages. There are of course tons of other places to choose from! Those are just a few we’ve stayed at ourselves and loved.
To view the full list of accommodations in this area visit: https://visitsouthshore.ca/places-to-stay/
4. Shop at a Local Store or Craft Market
Along your travels be sure to keep an eye out for gift shops! With the holidays fast approaching it’s the perfect time to get loved ones a unique handmade item and the South Shore is full of places to find them. In Barrington you can view locally made nautical gifts at Fashion Fix or the Barrington Museum Complex, and if you’re in Lockport be sure to check out Becky’s Yarn and Knit Shop. Becky (who’s a fabulous storyteller) even has specialty dyed yarn of colours from around Lockport including “Locke's Island Lobster", where she actually sent in a cooked lobster shell to have the yarn colour matched exactly. How cool is that! Lunenburg is also a lovely spot to shop and in late November they have a free holiday event called “Light Up Lunenburg”. During this event, there’s a Santa Claus parade, tree lighting, ship lighting, live music, and a holiday market. Normally the market is outdoors but due to the weather, they moved it indoors on that day. We wandered the market, chatted with vendors, sampled fruit cake, and found unique gift items for Christmas.
5. Witness and Celebrate Dumping Day
As warm as your bed may be, we encourage you to wake up early on Dumping Day and visit a local wharf to experience the wholesome event with locals. After all, this is what we’ve all been waiting for, the official kickoff to the beginning of Lobster Fishing season along Nova Scotia’s South Shore! Witnessing dumping day is a tradition around here where families and friends will gather in their cars or on the piers to watch, wave, and photograph the heavy boats all loaded down with traps set out. Folks here are friendly and this is totally something you can go witness even if you don’t know anyone fishing! Just remember that this is a working wharf and to keep your distance, letting fishers and their families safely get their tasks done. We visited Port La Tour in Barrington where at exactly 7 am, silhouetted under pre-dawn light, boats began going out into the Atlantic. The soundtrack of the morning is gulls calling out, boat engines chugging along, and kids saying “that’s dad's boat” or parents saying “wave hi to papa/grandma!”. It’s such a beautiful thing to see. Bundle up though because the morning is cold and certainly gives you a great appreciation for all those fishing in the middle of winter - now that takes grit!
Dumping Day Tip: Keep an eye on the weather and check online or with local fishermen/shops/restaurants to see if it is still scheduled to take place! This is a very weather-dependent day. Mother Nature willing, Dumping Day takes place on the last Monday of November, but can sometimes be delayed by a few days if there are high winds or a storm in the forecast.
