The Conch Festival is uniquely Turks & Caicos

Not that we need an excuse to throw a party here in the islands, but the Fourth Annual TCI Conch Festival, to be held November 24 this year, celebrates something that is truly unique to Turks & Caicos – the conch.

The Strombus gigas, otherwise known as the queen or pink-lipped conch, holds a special place in our hearts, stomachs and wallets. The creepy snail-like creature that lives in an attractive submarine condo (which collectors worlwide adore) is more than a pretty face – it’s our island’s number one export, and TCI is the only place in the world where they are raised on a commercial “farm”.

So why not throw bash to celebrate our friendly mollusk? The Conch Festival, born out of too much idle time by a group of locals who hang out at Three Queen’s Bar & Restaurant (official venue for the event), is a raucous, family-friendly day long party held every year in the Blue Hills area of Providenciales. This is an area most tourists never get to see (it’s worth a trip down the scenic Blue Hills Road even if there are no festivals on). There are bands, contest, games, boat races, and, the marquee event, the ‘conch-etition’ which pits more than 20 local chefs and restaurants against each to see who makes the best conch dishes. And trust me, these people can make just about anything out of conch! Burgers, fritters, cracked, fried, sautee’d – you name it. No one goes away hungry as $15 gets you a tasting at each booth, and the crowd votes on the Best In Festival – an award that the winning chef takes home and gets to proudly display for a year at his or her establishment – a tropical gastronomic Stanley Cup. (Last year’s winner, Aqua, vows to defend its title to the hilt – all the other chefs have different ideas).

Double-I highly recommends this celebration of something that is a major part of TCI’s history, culture, economy and diet. Our dark horse pick to take it all this year is Simba, although the sentimental favorite is always Boogaloo, the king of all conch in TCI (who is rumored to be opening an new restaurant of his own right down the beach from where they hold the Conch Festival.)

Get there early and enjoy the live local music from Lee Forbes & The Force and The Island Boyz – plus a special Junakanoo Rush – which if you have never seen before, is a spectacle to behold in and of itself. Bet on the island sloop sailboat races. Sample a Mojito in the Bacardi Mojito Bartender Challenge. Enter a draw to win $10,000 from the local Rotary Club. Try you hand – or lungs – at the ancient skill of conch blowing. And eat, eat , eat.

Let the Conch-eition Begin!

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The Conch Festival is uniquely Turks & Caicos