Heritage Festivals in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Maritime Festival: Part 5 in a five part series about National Heritage Month in the Turks and Caicos Islands
What has a sparkling turquoise colour that has provided the backdrop to countless weddings and television programs?
What possesses such power and movement that countless island artists have been inspired to paint and create songs?
What has provided a bounty that has not only fed generations of Turks and Caicos residents but continues to grace the tables in island restaurants and homes?
Of course, the answer is the sea which holds such an integral place in the Turks and Caicos Islands that it is celebrated in The Maritime Festival during the last weekend of October. This final event of National Heritage Month kicks off on the Saturday at Fuller and Clementina Walkin Children’s Park, located in Blue Hills on Providenciales a 15-minute drive from Villa del Mar and the resorts along Grace Bay Beach. It is a day full of sloop and dinghy racing, as well as other entertainment and activities, all free to the public.
Sloops sailed by members of the Maritime Heritage Foundation compete on a timed course while dinghies from the Turks and Caicos Islands Sailing Association race from Bight Park to Blue Hills and back. Both these organizations tie in very closely with the themes of National Heritage Month as they both seek to celebrate maritime heritage as well as to pass along environmental stewardship and maritime skills to future generations.
Onshore there is plenty of action as well. There is traditional maypole dancing and a beach party featuring local bands like Island Boys and Sea Breeze playing ripsaw music, a Caribbean musical sound like no other. Steel handsaws are stroked and bent, while drums and percussion create a variety of beats. It’s an infectious rhythm that puts smiles on listener’s faces and prompts them to bust out their best dance moves.
A highlight in the musical portion of the weekend festivities is the performance by We Funk band, doing their own unique style of junkanoo music. It doesn’t get more distinctly Caribbean than this. Junkanoo has its origins in the days of slavery when slaves only had Christmas and New Year’s to enjoy freedom and recreation and so would celebrate by wearing colourful cloth and ribbons and make music with a variety of instruments. It’s very energetic and invites participation.
Local vendors are on hand providing a dazzling array of delectable dishes featuring locally caught fish, crab, lobster, and conch.
Rounding out the weekend festival is a gospel concert by the Gospel Pioneers and performances by other local gospel groups. It is a time to reflect on the Turks and Caicos Islands’ relationship to the ocean that surrounds and sustains it.
The Maritime Festival marks the close of Turks and Caicos Island National Heritage Month. It’s fitting that a celebration of the sea should wind up the festivities. The rich history of the islands was born out of the plight and successes of descendants who travelled by sea and for most, drew their livelihood from the waters around the islands. Island life today thrives from the beauty of the sea and the life within it.
Where to Stay during National Heritage Month
Convenient day trips from Providenciales to the various Heritage Festivals in the Turks and Caicos make it possible to participate in the rich history of the islands while maintaining a home base on Provo. A quick taxi ride to Providenciales Airport from Villa del Mar, along with convenient flight service to South Caicos, Middle and North Caicos makes attending cultural events fun day-long excursions for the whole family.
Check out our special rates for Providenciales accommodations during the Turks and Caicos National Heritage Month.
