I think many people agree, Whidbey Island provides a great getaway any time of year. It’s easy to jump on a ferry in Mukilteo, Wash., drive around the island and situate yourself at a campground, cozy B & B or country inn.
But if you are looking for an excuse to take an escape weekend, checkout these two upcoming events, both of which sound mighty appetizing!
Red Wine & Chocolate (Feb 7-8 & 14-15)
Visit Whidbey Island over either of two weekends for the Whidbey Island Red Wine and Chocolate event. Look for fine, hand crafted wines and spirits along with some of the finest chocolate treats at five local tasting rooms. Each venue has come up with a wonderful flight of samples and decadent chocolates just for you.
Enjoy the scenic vistas of farmland, beaches and forests where small family wineries and a distiller are nestled, creating critically acclaimed wines and spirits. Savor, explore, experience and enjoy what Whidbey has to offer!
Tickets are available at all participating WIVDA venues or through brownpapertickets.com/event/903507, $20 advance ticket price, $25 if purchased on the day of the event.
Penn Cove Mussel Fest (March 7-8)
A month later, plan to partake in the Penn Cove MusselFest—Coupeville’s March tradition. “Bold, briny and blue,” the world famous mussels will be the centerpiece of two days of festivities, including chowder tasting and mussel eating competitions, farm tours and activities for all ages featuring locally-flavored fun.
Visitors to the festival, a tradition now in its 29th year, should start at the MusselFest Headquarters, located at the Coupeville Recreation Hall in the heart of historic downtown Coupeville. Here they can purchase tickets to the festival favorite Mussel Chowder Tasting Competition, which pits local restaurants against each other for the coveted Mussel Chowder prize.
MusselFest Headquarters is also the center for mussel cooking demonstrations, the daily mussel eating competition, and tickets for the mussel farm boat tour. No festival experience is complete without a stop by the Musselfest beer and wine gardens.
The weekend also includes the 5th annual “Mussels in the Kettles” Mountain Bike Poker Ride and the Spring Art Tour, featuring artists at studios from Greenbank to Oak Harbor. Explore the complexity of Coupeville’s historic waterfront while sampling the blue fruits of the sea we are famous for. For more information, visit or call the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce at(360) 678-5434.
