The BC Seafood Festival in the Comox Valley is the largest seafood festival in Western Canada. And the 12th annual event that takes place in Comox from June 7 to 18 has just announced an impressive lineup of participating chefs from around the world.

From Vancouver, look for Hidekazu Tojo of Tojo’s, Pino Posteraro of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca, Ned Bell of Ocean Wise, Chris Andraza of Fanny Bay Oyster Bar, Andrea Carlson of Burdock & Co., and F.I.S.H’s Jenice Yu. Also taking part are Next Jen’s Jennifer Peters, Eva Chin of Royal Dinette; Caitlin Mark, H2 Westin Bayshore; and Chicha’s Shelome Bouvette.

B.C. chefs Lisa Ahier of SoBo in Tofino, Melissa Craig of Whistler’s Bearfoot Bistro, Isabel Chung of Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and Morgan Wilson of Victoriia’s Fairmont Empress Hotel, among many others, will also lend some culinary flair.

International celebrity chefs include Sydney, Australia’s Mark Best, Hong Kong-based Tim Ho, New York’s Scott Schneider, and Abby Ferrer, from Maui.

The BC Seafood Festival Signature Weekend, June 16 and 17 at Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park, features dozens of seafood, craft-beer, wine, and spirit tasting stations, where you can meet producers and chefs. Outfits that will be pouring samples include Hester Creek Estate Winery, Shelter Point Distillery, Stag’s Hollow, Raven’s Moon Cider, Gladstone Brewing Company, and more.

There are live-music performances and two Celebrity Chef Demonstration stages, where "Learn to Cook BC Seafood" sessions will take place.

Recurring festival hits are the Fanny Bay Oyster Shucking Competition and the Ocean Wise Chowder Challenge.

Then there's the Baked n Boiled Kitchen Party, with a seafood boil. Shucked, Canada's largest oyster bar happy hour, on June 15, is already sold out. However, there are still tickets for the Unruly Gin and Oyster Happy Hour, at Wayward Distillation House, where guests get to sip the woodsy spirit out of freshly shucked oyster shells.

For pint-sized foodies, there’s an interactive kids’ zone with touch tanks, interactive displays, and seafood-cooking classes (shrimp tacos and seafood stir fry).

Satellite events include wildlife tours, a valley and glacier tour, snorkelling with seals, and a deep-water oyster-farm tour and cruise. 

Tickets are on sale at BCSeafoodFestival.com.