The idea for the conch festival started simply as a way to bring more visitors to the Blue Hills, a settlement of the Turks and Caicos Islands just a few miles away from the popular Grace Bay Beach. Wanting to bring the feeling of a carnival to the area of Blue Hills, the organizers of the now-famous conch festival decided to play to their strengths and celebrate the iconic cuisine of the region: the conch. Conch Festival 2017 will be the 14th annual event, taking place on Saturday afternoon, November 25th, outside the Three Queens Bar and Restaurant.
Conch in Turks & Caicos Islands
The conch is the main export of the Turks and Caicos Islands and has been a local delicacy for centuries. Indeed, the Turks and Caicos Islands are home to the only commercial conch farm in the world, Caicos Conch farm. The farm started as a way to meet the vast demand for exported conch from the Caribbean to the rest of the world, and now has become a popular tourist destination.
Besides having a beautiful shell and holding an important place of honour in the history, culture and economy of the islands, the conch also features prominently in local cuisine. The Turks and Caicos Islands are full of gourmet restaurants offering a variety of flavourful, spicy local dishes centered around the delicious conch. The local cuisine features a variety of ways to prepare the conch. Some of the most popular dishes include conch fritters, where the sea snail is breaded and fried, or the conch salad, where the conch is served raw. The conch festival is an opportunity for local restaurants to show their most creative take on the islands’ food “mascot.” From conch wontons to conch empanadas, the festival encourages local chefs to get creative.
Judges sample each restaurant’s offerings and award prizes for the best overall conch dish, best specialty dish, best conch salad, and the best conch chowder. The overall winner of the festival is selected by a popular vote, and every visitor that opts to purchase a tasting pass can join in on the fun! While the judges are hard at work, agonizing over these tough decisions, visitors to the festival are treated to a cornucopia of local music, art and dancing. The festival also promotes itself as family-friendly (while also offering a prize for the best Mojito, for the parents), and offers fun activities for kids including face painting, competitions and games, and raffles.
Conch Festival 2017
Don’t miss out on the conch festival of the Turks and Caicos Islands on November 25, 2017.
Follow the excitement at @conchfestival on Instagram or check out the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TCIConchFestival
Here are some favourite images from Instagram
