The Conch Festival – A TCI Favorite

It’s that time of year again!! That exciting time of year where the holidays kick off into full gear!! The Turks & Caicos Islands celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s in traditional ways, but they also add a cultural twist and there are some festivities that are truly not to be missed!! Chief amongst these celebrations is the annual Conch Festival. Now in it’s 11th year, the Conch Festival is one of the best celebrations that the islands has to offer!!

This year, the festivities kick off with a Calypso event on Friday November 27th, 2015. The next day, Saturday November 28th, is when the full-blown festival occurs.

If you’re coming, show up hungry, because some of the finest restaurants of TCI will be competing in a “Conch-etition,” in which the categories are Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder, Best Specialty Conch and Best in Show. Last year, Hemingways won Best in Show, but this year it’s anyone’s guess!

The Conch Festival is a festival that celebrates (you guessed it) the conch. The conch is TCI’s reigning delicacy, its unofficial mascot and its chief exporting product. Certainly worthy of celebration!! Indeed, this tiny marine mollusk with the beautiful shell is as essential to the Turks and Caicos as the turquoise waters and the white sandy beaches.

The conch also figures heavily into many exotic and flavorful dishes from the many gourmet restaurants that dot the islands.

Fun Activities for Children

In order to highlight the importance of the conch, Henry the Conch, a real live conch snail, will be on hand to delight children of all ages. Children will also enjoy a Santa sighting, many games and face painting and other festivities. For the adults, a Mojito-making contest, sponsored by Bacardi will provide amusement, as will the lively Calypso and Reggae Music and a conch blowing contest!!

Indeed, it’s a day chock full of fun, food, surprises and island culture, so be sure to attend should you be in the area. You won’t regret it.

Details: The 2015 Conch Festival takes place on November 28. Most of the festivities are on the 29th and the tasting is from noon to 5pm in the Blue Hills District. A $25 fee allows you to taste every dish and to vote for Best in Show. At 5:30pm is a raffle drawing with a cash prize of $10,000. The adult after party is at Zanzi Bar.