Here in Nova Scotia Canada, we love lobster so much that we literally have a whole month dedicated to the delicious crusteacean - Lobster Crawl takes place every February along the picturesque South Shore, and here are 10 ways to crawl aboard and shellebrate:
1. Eat Lobster
It wouldn’t be a lobster party without indulging in some lobster goodness! Fishing season is in full swing in this region of the province which means restaurants are stocked with the freshest lobster possible. You can enjoy a variety of creative lobster dishes including lobster rolls, lobster pasta, lobster poutine, lobster beer, lobster ice cream, and more! Check out our other blog 14 Unique Ways to Enjoy Lobster on Nova Scotia’s South Shore for some ideas of what to add to your foodie wishlist.
Featured dishes: Lobster fettuccine from The Quarterdeck Resort, lobster beer from Saltbox Brewing, lobster fondue from Capt. Kat’s Lobster Shack, and a big lobster roll from The Portside Lounge
2. Attend a South Shore Groundhog Day
Except around Nova Scotia’s South Shore, instead of a groundhog they have a lobster named Lucy - how cute is that! Join Lucy each February 2nd at the Cape Sable Island Causeway in Barrington as she crawls out of the cold Atlantic to predict if there will be an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter. It’s a fun event to attend and you can get a “shelfie” with Lucy! If you end up missing the event or maybe want to see Lucy again, you can visit her the rest of the month at Capt. Kat’s where she hangs out in the spa.
Groundhog day with Lucy the LobSTAR
3. Book a Cozy Getaway
There’s no denying this time of the year is chilly - you may be “down south” but it’s still Atlantic Canada! So to keep yourself cozy we recommend booking a comfortable place to stay along your lobster travels. There are lots of cottages, hotels, and seaside resorts to choose from, all a short distance to wonderful beaches, trails, and restaurants. Be sure to keep your eye out for Lobster Crawl getaway packages too!
Featured locations: The Quarterdeck Resort, Salty Shores Inn and Cafe, Seaside Cottages at Ginger Hill, Boulder Cove Cottages
4. Visit a Museum or Heritage Centre
Celebrate Black History Month with a visit to The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre where you will learn about Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia and how Birchtown NS was home to the world’s largest free African population outside of Africa in the late 18th century. Or, dive into two centuries’ worth of history in Barrington (the Lobster Capital of Canada) with a visit to the Barrington Museum Complex where you can climb a replica lighthouse and learn seafaring tales of the area.
Explore and learn at The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre and Barrington Museum Complex
5. Shop at a Lobstore
Finding lobsterific souvenirs for yourself and your friends is easy around here. There are lots of shops and markets that feature locally made nautical gifts! We LOVED checking out Lobster Made Easy’s pop-up Lob’STORE in Mahone Bay where we purchased a hand-knitted hat and lobster mittens. Another Great spot was the Barrington Museum Complex where they have lots to purchase or you can take a lobster felting class.
6. Attend the Lobster Roll Off
Have you ever wondered where the best lobster roll can be found in all of Nova Scotia’s South Shore? Well, this is the event for you and the big showdown of the Lobster Crawl Festival as restaurants from all over the region gather to see who is awarded the best lobster roll of that year. In attending the event audiences get to see judges choose their favorite rolls and enjoy a lobster roll meal too. It’s a fierce competition as there are truly no bad lobster rolls around these parts! Before or after the event be sure to check out the list of restaurants competing so that you can visit some (or all) of the locations and judge for yourself too.
7. Go to Multiple Events
A month-long festival like Lobster Crawl gives you lots of time to attend one of the many events! All throughout February you can experience local concerts, a beer festival, community dinners, dances, winery dinners, and more. Then, on the last weekend of the month, they hold a Tail End Party! Check the Lobster Crawl website and social media pages to get the most up-to-date information on events as this growing festival is always adding new ones each year.
8. Take a Walking Tour or Foodie Tour
Visit the seaside town of Lunenburg and immerse yourself in local history and lore with Lunenburg Walking Tours. Or, if you want to keep your travels strictly lobster based, take a foodie tour with a lobster expert where you travel town to town and sample clawtastic lobster dishes along the way.
9. Discover How the Lobster Industry Works
Behind every delicious lobster is a fishing team that got it from the ocean to your plate! Take a tour of a local lobster pound to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the lobster industry works, or visit a working wharf to see the lobster fishing boats in action.
10. Enjoy the Scenery
Nova Scotia’s South Shore is a four-season destination where beautiful sights await you no matter what time of year. Here, you can find long sandy beaches, colourful fishing towns, postcard-perfect landscapes, and mesmerizing sunrises/sunsets. We encourage you to bundle up and explore!
Check out our video from our Lobster Crawl travels here:
