Party like a "LOB-Star" - This year's series of Lobster Fests to be celebrated along Belize's Caribbean coast and cayes is set to become the biggest yet, with three main festivals taking up most of this month, according to our sources in Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and Placencia.
The Lobster Fests have always been something people all over Belize look forward to, and as more and more travellers discover Belize, the seasonal parties have been growing from small local celebrations to major events.
Originally held in the fishing village of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to celebrate the opening of lobster season in June, the lobster fest would welcome in the first catches of the season and the long awaited return of income for many of the villages' inhabitants or fishermen. Local musical groups would arrive and along with conspicuous consumption of seafood and drinks there would be dances and beachside barbeques.
Today's lobster fests are more sophisticated affairs, but still retain the island and village flavour and exuberance of the past.
The three main Belize lobster festivals include San Pedro-Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and Placencia in no particular order, each one slightly different and offering a variety of different experiences.
This 2014 Lobster Fests season kicks off on Ambergris Caye with the San Pedro - Ambergris Caye Lobster Festival held during June 14 through to June 21. The San Pedro lobster festival is always a big one, as they have different events on different days right across the island, so each day is like a new party in a new location, except that you don't need to travel far. On June 21 it closes with a massive Block Party featuring live performances by local artist Supa-G and other special guests, so it won't be hard to dance off all of those lobster calories.
Nearby, Caye Caulker hosts the next big lobster festival on June 27 through the 29. Caye Caulker is the home of "no shoes, no shirt, no worries", and the Caye Caulker Lobster Festival is a more intimate, laid back island party. Some 20 miles from Belize City and a short water taxi ride from Ambergris Caye, tiny Caye Caulker is only five miles (8.0 km) long by one mile (1.6 km) wide with beautiful sandy beaches to accommodate the numbers who arrive every year to sample this season's lobster and seafood catch. It's a small island, but a big festival with a lot of things to do. Caye Caulker will hold their Miss Lobster Fest Gala on Friday June 13 at Rainbow Bar and Grill.
Rounding out the trio of lobster fests is the Placencia Peninsula June 2014 lobster festival, also held the weekend of 27 to 29. Situated in southern Belize, the traditional fishing village of Placencia sits on the end of the Placencia peninsula, a sandy white strip that until relatively recently subsisted entirely on fishing. This is a really fun filled lobster festival. Although it's also laid back, Placencia has always been known for great fishing and as a place to have a good time. Surrounded by such pristine waters and being close to the Belize Great Barrier Reef, Placencia has always been a seafood Mecca, and they go all out for the lobster fest.
All Belize lobster festivals were family affairs appealing to a wide range of ages and interests.
There's always something for everyone to do. They all have children's activities and fun events anyone can join in. There are boat rides, music and dances at night, arts and various competitions.
And of course, there are lobsters. Lobster breakfasts, lobster lunches, lobster dinners and snacks in between. Lobster with rice and beans is a Belize Caribbean staple, but creativity abounds at the fests and you experience something new every year. From all of us at the Corozal Daily, be safe and do enjoy those delectable morsels of this wonderful crustacean.
