Lobster Fest in Placencia

Lobster season in Belize opens June 15th and the Placencia Peninsula celebrates the crustacean with a festival. Over three days, attendees partake in all things lobster. There is the usual grilled lobster with melted butter, but more unique items can be tasted like lobster ceviche, lobster pies, and lobster-stuffed fry jacks. (Fry jacks are deep fried dough, similar to beignets, and are typically served at breakfast.) While lobster is the featured food, there is plenty of stew chicken, rice and beans, shrimp, and many other non-lobster and vegetarian dishes as well.

Over 50 booths, filled with arts, crafts, and hand-made jewelry attend the festival. Lionfish earrings, sea glass necklaces, conch bracelets, and cohune palm rings are a few of the featured jewelry items. Bowls and serving pieces made from local hardwoods fill other booths. Hand-made soaps, lotions, and even bug bite creams fill others. And there is no shortage of drinks, refreshments, and more.

In addition to face-painting, attendees may participate in the many games such as the Tipsy Tuna toss and tug-o-war. There are also a few competitions like cast the net, where party-goers toss a fishing net and pull a coil that is on the ground. For those looking for a more grueling contest, try the reel in the kayak contest. There is a lionfish competition and biggest lobster too.

Lobsterfest began in 1998 with the Placencia Belize Tourism Industry Association brainstorming for ways to promote Placencia. It had humble beginnings with the first one being a group of folks gathered around a table, eating lobster. Now, Lobsterfest is one of the largest festivals in Belize. Proceeds from Lobsterfest go towards student scholarships and creating local economic opportunities during low season.

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:

January: Celebrations around the country. Burrell Boom, kicks off the New Year with horse races. (Burrell Boom is in northern Belize, a “suburb” of Belize City and Belmopan.)

February: mid-February Placencia hosts a Sidewalk Arts Festival featuring paintings, photographer, and other local artists works.

March:

La Ruta Maya River Challenge (a grueling three-day race from San Ignacio to Belize City with a lively party along the river banks for the course.)

Agriculture Trade Show in Belmopan, featuring livestock, food, commercial vendors, and traditional costumes and dance

Easter: Celebrations throughout the country that typically involve going to church or mass, followed by music, games, and food and more. On Holy Saturday, Caye Caulker hosts a regatta. On Holy Monday, many villages host fairs, including Sittee River Village.

May:

Cashew Festival-First weekend in May in Crooked Tree Village to celebrate all things cashew, including wine, jams, and pastries.

Chocolate Festival in Toledo district celebrating the importance of the cocoa bean and the uniqueness of the people who celebrate it, featuring lots of chocolate.

June:

Hopkins Mango Fest-First weekend in June. A family-friendly event that features all things mango, with an emphasis on the culinary uniqueness of culture of the Garifuna people and their traditions.

Lobsterfests around the country celebrating the crustacean (Placencia, and San Pedro) Caye Caulker used to host one, but in recent years have not had a Lobsterfest.

July: Benque Viejo Festival celebrates Belize’s mestizo culture with salsa bands, parades, and more.

August:

First Thursday of the month and ends on Saturday. International Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The festival began to promote goodwill with all the Mundo Maya countries. All eight have participated in the past (Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama,) There are cultural theatrical performances, with elaborate costumes, as well as beauty queens from each country.

September:

1oth-St. George’s Caye Day-Symbolically kicks off the start of Independence celebrations throughout the country that culminate on the 21st, but continue the entire month.

Independence Day-21st-Parades and carnival in Belize City, with many villages having a small school parade and another one for the community to participate in.

November:

19-Garifuna Settlement Day. The biggest celebrations are in Dangriga, Hopkins, and Punta Gorda.