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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – Plans for the 12th Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival, are well underway with a weekend-full of activities on the tropical getaway Providenciales, the world’s #1 island and best beach. The popular beachside event attracts tourists and locals alike to celebrate the country’s most famous delicacy, historical icon, and number one export…CONCH. The main event will take place on Saturday (November 28) in the charming Blue Hills area of Providenciales, outside of Three Queen’s Bar & Restaurant.
Friday, November 27: Conch Fest Kick Off party at Alliance Plaza Courtyard
A pre-conch festival party featuring Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage plus a host of local artists will be held at Alliance Plaza (Club Pillows courtyard) on Friday, November 27. There will also be an after party at Zanzi on Saturday, November 28. Call 344-2169 or 344-8615 for more information.
Saturday, November 28: 12th Annual Conch Festival
The festival kicks into high gear on Saturday, November 28 at 11:00am in the Blue Hills area. The marquee event is the ‘conch-etition’ which pits the island’s best chefs against each other in a hotly-contested tasting competition judged by a panel of experts to include local athlete Delano Williams and celebrity chef Brian Lumsley, as well as the Festival attendees. Categories include Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder, Best Specialty Conch and Best in Show. More than 25 restaurants are expected to compete for the cash prizes and bragging rights this year. Tasting begins at Noon and runs until 5PM. A tasting fee of $25 gives Festival-goers a chance to sample all the dishes entered and cast a vote for Best in Show.
In addition to the restaurants, a “Home Kitchen” event will take place simultaneously. Home cooks will have a chance to show off their favourite conch recipe and earn a chance to win a cash prize and more. A separate vote will be held in this category and best in show will again be decided by the general public.
Major sponsors for this year’s festival so far are InterCaribbean Airways, Power 92.5/Kiss FM, Villa Del Mar, the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, Alamo Car Rental, Scotiabank, Fortis TCI, Miller Simons O’Sullivan, the TC Weekly News, Turks and Caicos Banking Company, The Palms, Cargo Express, Beaches, Amanyara, Henry Moog Foundation, Hemingway’s, IGA, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Josephine Connolly, Tropical Auto Rental, Cove Construction and Quality Food World with more coming on board every week, plus a host of others lending their support.
Augmenting the always delectable restaurant competitors is the annual Mojito-making contest sponsored by Bacardi Rum where the island’s best bartenders are on display with their creative twists on this classic Cuban cocktail.
Music is provided by a steel pan band plus local bands such as the Island Boys and Rake and Scrape. Special Conch Competitions for conch blowing and other conch related competitions will assure that chefs and bartenders are not the only ones who can win prizes. Plus the Rotary Club of Providenciales’ annual raffle. This year is a 50/50 raffle with the lucky winner walking away with a minimum of $3,000. Drawings for additional prizes will take place all during the festival. Tickets are currently on sale from local Rotarians and at 3 Queens Bar and Restaurant and will be available on the day of the event. However, buying tickets early is highly encouraged because only a limited number are available.
Henry the Conch will also be on hand to pass out goodies to the kids. A special kids’ area will be set up with games, face painting, bouncy castle and more.
About the Conch Festival
The Conch Festival is a family-friendly event with plenty of games and activities for the kids, including kids games on the beach and a showcase of local culture. There will be games on the beach, and a visit from our mascot, Henry the Conch. In 2008 the Conch Festival donated part if its proceeds to help the fishermen of South Caicos recover after Hurricane Ike, in 2011 over $4300 was donated to Clement Howell High School for much needed equipment and supplies and the Conch Festival also supplies water for their sports day every year. This year’s proceeds are earmarked to benefit the Blue Hills Clinic.
More information on the Conch Festival can be found at www.conchfestival.com or visit our Facebook page.
Contact 242-4553, 332-9944, 247-8838, 241-4465 or email tciconchfestival@gmail.com
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