Vancouver's wildly popular spot prawn festival returns next month

Vancouver’s beloved Spot Prawn Festival is officially returning for its twentieth year next month, offering folks an opportunity to shell-ebrate the start of B.C.’s spot prawn season.

Here, chefs, fishers, and food lovers of all kinds gather to celebrate the province’s most iconic and sustainable seafoods at Fishermen’s Wharf in False Creek.

This year, there will be multiple ways to enjoy the start of the season. In addition to free access to the docks, cooking demos, and the educational marketplace, this year will see the return of the popular $12 Prawn and Seafood Chowder and Bun.

Additionally, the $85 Spot Prawn Brunch — a grazing stand-up style experience offering a tasting menu of six different spot prawn dishes from multiple popular Vancouver restaurants — will be returning as well.

Participating chefs include Ben Kiely (PICAchef), Bobby Milheron (Maxine’s Café and Bar), Christopher Janowski (Sunflower Café), David Lee (Vancouver Aquarium), Jay Park (Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar), Jitin Kapoor (Glowbal), Kailash Chandra (Sula Indina Restaurant), Lina Caschetto (Say Hey Cafe), Malindi Taylor and Alex Guido (Fanny Bay Oyster Bar), Raimund Heuser (Blue Water Café), Steve Kuan (Torafuku), Tyler Prevette (Folietta Ristorante and Bar), and Ysmael Media and Catalino III Javier (Halina Modern Filipino Kitchen and Bar). Six chefs will be featured at each brunch, but final lineups may vary due to scheduling.

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However, while this year’s festival is a celebration, event organizers Chefs’ Table Society of BC and Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association have shared that this is happening during a time of uncertainty for the industry.

“China’s tariffs have significantly reduced export prices for BC spot prawns, leaving many harvesters struggling to maintain viable operations,” said Fraser MacDonald of Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association. “That’s why building strong domestic demand is more important than ever. Events like the Spot Prawn Festival help connect British Columbians directly to our product and support the people behind this fishery.”

Each year, the Spot Prawn Festival helps grow the domestic appreciation for local spot prawns, while raising vital funds for Chefs’ Table Society programs including culinary sholarships, mentorship, and sustainability initiatives, as well as spporting The Commons by CTS — a dynamic new culinary hub in Vancouver dedicated to presrving B.C.’s rich food heritage while fostering education, industry connection, and the next generation of culinary talent.

The Spot Prawn Festival is taking place on Sunday, May 31. Tickets for the Prawn and Seafood Chowder and Spot Prawn Brunch are currently available online, each with its own time slot.

Spot Prawn Festival

When: Sunday, May 31
Where: False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf — 1505 W. 1st Ave., Vancouver
Cost: Free entry, $12 for Prawn and Seafood Chowder and Bun, $85 for Spot Prawn Brunch

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