The Seattle Traveler

If you’re a seafood lover, mark the weekend of March 3rd-4th on your calendar, and plan to attend the Penn Cove Mussel Festival in Coupeville.

These deliciously sweet, black-shelled morsels are native to the waters of Washington.  Prepared simply (steamed with white wine and herbs) or tossed with a hearty pasta sauce, it makes my mouth water just thinking about them! 

The festival takes place in Coupeville, in the heart of Whidbey Island.  You can reach Coupeville from Seattle by driving north on I-5 to the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry exit.  There are two exits that will take you to the ferry, and both provide excellent signage to follow.  Take the ferry across to Clinton (on the tip of Whidbey Island), and then drive about 30 miles north on Highway 520 to Coupeville.  You can find a ferry schedule at Washington State Ferries.

Lots of activities are planned for festival weekend, and, as you might expect, a lot of them involve tastings.  Mmmmmmm!

Oh yeah, other festival activities include a boat tour of the mussel flats, a mussel-eating contest, a mussel chowder-off, mussel-themed games for the kids, beer and wine (21 and over only), and music.  Did I mention that you get to eat mussels?

Location:  On Cove Street, between Grace & Alexander Streets in Coupeville (Whidbey Island)

Dates & Times:  March 3rd-4th.  10:30 am – 8:30 pm on Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm on Sunday.

Admission:  Free.  Some events have individual fees, and there is a charge for food and beverages.

Other activities going on that weekend include the Arts and Antiques Walk and the Open Studio Tour, so there will be lots to do and see, not just to eat. — although you can’t go wrong eating Penn Cove Mussels.

NOTE:  Although the festival has a website, it does not seem to be live. 

You can find some great mussel recipes here:

Photo credit:  flickr

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