Sample the sea’s finest at Campbell River’s annual Salmon Festival
Sample culinary delights while you watch the logger sports
Situated on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Campbell River was a quiet fishing village until the 1860s when large camps were set up for the burgeoning forest industry. Logging and mining are still very important to the economy, but Campbell River is also a popular destination for sports fishermen who come here from all over the world to catch the salmon that swim in the local waters.
Logging and salmon are so ingrained into the culture of Campbell River it’s absolutely natural for the annual Salmon Festival to be part of the largest logger sports competition in Canada. Each summer, thousands of people come here to participate in a successful experience that started in 1970 and is all about the local heritage, competition, excitement, entertainment and a whole lot of fun for the entire family.
A highlight of the Salmon Festival is the annual parade and each day is filled with heritage logger sports competitions, outstanding musicians performing on the stage, arts and crafts, a home show, events for children and seniors, a food fair and of course the cooking competitions for both professional and amateur chefs. Kids can try their hand at catching a big fish at the Huck Finn Children’s Fishing Derby and the Small Fry Fishing Derby. That’s how memories are created.
Cooking competition
Recently the Salmon Festival organizing committee decided the cooking competition called the Salmon Sizzler would now be called the Seafood Cook-Off and include other seafood. The Professional Chef’s Oyster Competition is a popular affair, with chefs from around the world competing against each other to create delicacies. They are tasted by judges, but the public is invited to sample them as well.
The chefs make it look so easy. The salmon, tuna, prawn, oyster and halibut appetizers are full of flavour and a delight to look at. Watching the amateur competitors attempt the same types of dishes can get pretty exciting. Not to be missed are the professional and amateur salmon entrée competitions, and watching the amateurs smoke a salmon is another favourite.
It’s difficult not to be inspired by the perfectly cooked and delicious food that seems to be everywhere and the organizers are prepared for that. There’s a demonstration area where the pros teach how to prepare these delicious seafood dishes at home.
Watching the loggers sports events is jaw-dropping. Seeing the novices in the log-rolling contest can be hilarious as they attempt to stay on the log as it rolls in the water. Enjoying a salmon or oyster burger from one of the vendors while watching logger sports is a perfect way to spend the day at the Salmon Festival in Campbell River.
