Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time in my head thinking up places and spaces where we can escape to for a couple of weeks this Summer.

We are – very seriously – in dire need of some unplugged family time of the leaving-town kind. But, while it may be a bit before we can pack up the truck and head out, I am digging the mini-escapes that pop up around town this time of year in the form of fun foodie festivals.

The one on my brain right now is one of the tasty faves of the season – the 2009 Comox Valley Shellfish Festival.

Talk about all local food!

This is one serious celebration of all things shellfish.

With live music, great food, a beer tent and cooking demos all day (with a bit of education mixed in) the festival which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21 (Father’s Day) at Marina Park in Comox, is the perfect little mini-break after the kiddos make Dad breakfast in bed and the family is looking for some fun.

We always look forward to the food tastings (my fave) and the tiny person loves to quiz the folks from Fisheries and Oceans about anything that has to do with the ocean (ah, the unending stream of why’s).

Admission is FREE, but the food isn’t. So, make sure you bring some cash (food tickets are $2 each and booths work on the ticket system) as to not miss out on the yummies. We’ve had chowder and geoduck there that made our heads spin they were so yummy

If heading out on Sunday is going to cramp your dad’s day plans, why not check out the festival’s Gala Dinner on Saturday. This fun event includes some of the best chefs in town creating fantastic shellfish dishes to wow and wine from the award-winning Beaufort Winery.  Tickets are available by calling Roberta Stevenson at (250) 890-7561.

With that, I head off into the sunshine today with a bit of a teaser:

If you are itching for lots more when it comes to experiencing the coolness that is local food this Summer, watch for Our Big Earth’s big announcement this week.

Think family-style food fun of the month-long kind – taste testing, hanging out on the farm, film festing, prize winning, storytelling and more.

As always, Our Big Earth is working hard to bring you the best of family-friendly Comox Valley.

It’s nearly time to test that one out at the dinner table.