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News : International : Caribbean News Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


11th Annual TCI Conch Festival set for November 29th
By Joy MacKenzie
Oct 30, 2014 - 1:52:42 PM

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands –October 30, 2014 –Plans for the 11th Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival, are well underway with a weekend-full of activities on the tropical getaway of Providenciales, home to the World’s Best Beach. The popular beachside event attracts tourists and locals alike to celebrate the islands’ most famous delicacy, historical icon, and number one export…CONCH. The main event will take place on Saturday afternoon (November 29) in the charming Blue Hills area of Providenciales, outside of Three Queen’s Bar & Restaurant.

Friday, November 28: First Annual Calypso Kick-off event.

This year the weekend kicks off with a Calypso event. (More details will be available soon.)

Saturday, November 29: Eleventh Annual Conch Festival

The weekend kicks into high gear on Saturday, November 29 at Noon 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 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. . An entry 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, the “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. Home Kitchen participants will receive each receive $75 to help offset the cost of their ingredients. They are urged to bring a BIG pot of their conch recipe so everyone will get a chance to sample what they have prepared.

Major sponsors for this year’s festival so far are Amanyara, Wine Cellar, Villa Del Mar, the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, Discover Card, Alamo Car Rentals and the TC Weekly News 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 where the island’s best bartenders are on display with their creative twists on this classic Cuban cocktail. This year’s event also features the Turks and Caicos’ own world-renowned Junk-a-Noo, plus other local performers.

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 biggest prize of all will be the cash prize of $10,000 drawn at 5:30 on the day of the festival by the Rotary Club of Providenciales as part of its annual Pot-of-Gold raffle. 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 and a special appearance by Santa will also be on hand to pass out goodies to the kids. A special kids’ area will be set up with games, face painting and more.

The day’s events will culminate with an after party at Zani Bar featuring DJ music by TCI Most Wanted, DJ Shakes and Unstoppable and DJ Vernam dancing into the wee hours of the night. Admission will be: ladies $10, men $20. This is the ONLY Conch Festival sanctioned after party.

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. A clean drinking water system for Oseta Jolly Primary School is being undertaken with the proceeds from lasts year.

More information on the Conch Festival can be found at www.conchfestival.com.

Contact Dick Bain, President 242 4553 or Joy MacKenzie, Secretary 241-4465 or email tciconchfestival@gmail.com


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