Oyster-encrusted car big attraction of P.E.I. Shellfish Festival

An oyster-encrusted car is one of the can't-miss features of this year's P.E.I. Shellfish Festival in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Visitors can sign their name on one of the stuck-on shells and take a "shellfie" with the unusual set of wheels.

The Oyster Mobile, which is completely covered in more than 8,000 shells,was created by Leslie Hardy and Sons Ltd., a P.E.I. oyster farm in Ellerslie.

The shells come from last year's Tyne Valley Oyster Festival competition in which the 10-member Team Canada shucked its way into the Guinness World Records with 8,800 shells opened. (The previous record of 8,472 was set by a team from France in 2002.)

"Come sign your autograph and you'll forever be known on the Oyster Mobile," said P.E.I. Shellfish Association president Brenda Campbell.

"Take a shellfie and enjoy the weekend."

'We have the best shellfish in the world'

The P.E.I. Shellfish Festival, which opened Thursday, is celebrating its 20th year.

Event chairman Liam Dolan says it's the biggest year yet with more celebrity chefs, competitions and entertainment.

"It's the biggest marketing for shellfish for the year," said Dolan.

"This is a backdrop of telling the people in the world that this is what our shellfish is all about in P.E.I. We have the best shellfish in the world and the reason why I started this 20 years ago, nobody was telling the story. And it also extends the tourism season."

Organizers says tickets sales are good this year, but there are still some left.

On Sunday, the festival's final day, the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association will attempt a world record, hoping to make the longest lobster roll ever.

The first 400 people at the festival that day will enjoy a taste.