Cultural Celebrations

Junkanoo Jump Up

As the clock strikes midnight on January 1 of each year, islanders take to the streets in bejeweled masks and handmade costumes, banging away on their instruments and dancing until dawn. Junkanoo has been celebrated in Turks and Caicos since the sixteenth century when slaves were given one day off around Christmas time to celebrate with their families. Traditional African music and dance were part of the festivities then, as they are today.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo in Turks and Caicos is the celebration of Mexican heritage through food, drinks, music, dance, and more. The party starts at 7 p.m. at Turtle Cove in Providenciales.

Museum Day

Museum Day at the Turks and Caicos National Museum is held each December in honor of the museum’s opening in November of 1991. Guests are invited to attend demonstrations of activities important to the heritage of Turks and Caicos.

Music Festivals

Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival

For a week at the end of July and beginning of August, the Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival brings live soul, hip hop, r&b, and soul music to the islands.  Other events include a beauty pageant and a festival of booths set up to honor cultural entities such as food and dress.

Sporting Events

Who Cares Wahoo Tournament

The Who Cares Wahoo Tournament is an all day fishing tournament that takes place at the Turtle Cove Marina each January. Prizes include cash, airline tickets, and more.

Valentines Day Cup

Model sailboat race each February at Bambarra Beach. Trophies, medals, and cash prizes are awarded.

Turks and Caicos Kite Flying Competition

The Monday after Easter Sunday sees the skies of Providenciales decorated with kites of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Easter egg hunts and family-friendly games are also a part of the event, which takes place both on Governor’s Beach and Horse Stable Beach.

South Caicos Regatta

The South Caicos Regatta got its start in 1966 when the Queen of England made her first official visit to Turks and Caicos. Since that time, a regatta has been held each year during the last weekend of May. Events include boat races, maypole dances, a beauty pageant, and a parade.

Windvibes Kiteboarding Tournament

Check out the unique sport that is kiteboarding at the Windvibes Kiteboarding Tournament each May. Spectators can enter raffles to win lots of prizes, including free kiteboarding lessons and a kiteboard. Food and drinks are available.

Women’s International Festival of Football

This three game women’s football series takes place each May against an international team invited for the competition.

Big South Regatta

Boat races, live music, a beauty pageant, food, and a culture festival are all a part of the Big South Regatta. The event takes place in South Caicos each May.

Jadot Cup

The Jadot Cup is an annual golf event that takes place each June. It is a great day of golf and fund raising at the Provo Golf Club, with lots of door prizes.

North Caicos Extravaganza

The North Caicos Extravaganza is an annual street festival each June featuring sail boat races, live music, beauty pageants, and local food.

Heineken Game Fishing Tournament

Fishing tournament with a $100,000 prize for record setting catches. The event also features volleyball courts, live music, and a barbecue on Governor’s Beach.

Fools Regatta

Fools Regatta is a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities each June at Children’s Park on Provdienciales. Games include conch blowing, boat races, tug-of-war, and more.

TCI Amateur Open

The TCI Amateur Open is a golf championship tournament hosted by the Provo Golf and Country Club.  The event takes place in Providenciales over three days.  Both men and women are permitted to enter.

Other Events and Festivals

St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl

Each St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl participants in Providenciales receive discounted prices at bars such as Tiki Hut, Shark Bit, Bonnies, and Danny Bouys. There are numerous give-aways and lots of Irish fun to be had.

Salt Cay Splashdown Days

Salt Cay Splashdown Days is a three day event in April. The weekend is filled with family friendly events such as maypole dancing, bicycle racing, a beauty pageant, food, drinks, live music, and more.

Middle Caicos Day

Each August, Middle Caicos hosts a beach party known as Middle Caicos Day. Activities include boat races, a beauty pageant, a straw weaving competition, live entertainment, and a bon fire on the beach.

Turks and Caicos Conch Festival

The Blue Hills area of Providenciales celebrates the conch each November with an all-day event called the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival. Festivities include a sloop sailing race, conch tasting contest, conch blowing contest, live music, food, and fun.

Miss TCI Gospel Pageant

The Miss TCI Gospel Pageant is an annual pageant that is focused on the inner beauty of its contestants, rather than what is on the outside. The pageant is held each November.

Island Thyme Annual Xmas Tree Ornament Competition

Island Thyme, a restaurant in Salt Cay, hosts an annual Christmas celebration in which local artists enter their handmade Christmas ornaments in the tree ornament competition.

Check the country’s events calendar before heading out on your Turks and Caicos vacation, chances are there is an event going on that you’re interested in attending. Turks and Caicos has such a diverse selection of festivals and events that every traveler can find something to suite their tastes.

The waters here are superlative for all kinds of outdoor adventures, from diving and snorkeling to sailing, kayaking, and fishing. But watersports aren’t the only game in town. You’ll find prime golf and tennis facilities in Provo — and Rollerblade hockey is all the rage with local school kids.

• Snorkeling the islands: The snorkeling opportunities are excellent throughout the islands, whether the Caicos Cays, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk, or Salt Cay (which some claim has the country’s best snorkeling). But you don’t even have to leave Grace Bay to find great snorkeling. The government has established snorkel trails at Smith’s Reef (just outside Turtle Cove) and Bight Reef (right in front of the Coral Gardens resort; the hotel even has an on-site dive-and-snorkel instructor). These reefs are right off the shoreline, providing easy access into a fragile but beautiful world.

• Taking a beach cruise (Caicos Cays): A number of tour-boat operators offer variations on half- and full-day beach sojourns. Your trip may include a stop on Little Water Cay, a protected nature reserve inhabited by a colony of rare rock iguanas; snorkeling the coral reefs and diving for conch; or combing the beaches of uninhabited cays for sand dollars and other shells.

• Riding horses on the beach (Long Bay, Provo): You don’t need a whit of riding experience to thoroughly enjoy a leisurely late-afternoon trot on a beautiful beach. The gentle mounts of Provo Ponies are perfect for novices, but they don’t mind kicking it up a bit for proven riders — they love the beach, too.

• Strolling Grace Bay before sunset: You’ll be surprised at the long stretches of beautiful beach you have all to yourself. The sand is a little cooler, and the water takes on the pink and purple hues of the setting sun. Stop in and sink into an inviting white-cushioned perch at the Lounge, the oceanfront bar at Grace Bay Club, and sip a cocktail while you wait for the green flash on the horizon during sunset (seeing it is said to bring good luck).

• Watching the glowworms glow: Four or five days after a full moon, millions of glowworms come out just after sunset to mate — lighting up the shallow local waters with a sparkling green glow. You can see them on a glowworm cruise in the Caicos Cays or off any number of Caicos Bank docks. The show is over after the females devour the males when the mating ritual ends.

• Hiking or biking the Crossing Place Trail (Middle Caicos): This old coastal road, first established in the late 1700s by settlers working the local plantations, has been reopened from the Conch Bar to the Indian Cave field-road section and is now a National Trust heritage site. It has heartbreakingly beautiful sections, some on bluffs overlooking the blue-green ocean shallows and rocky outcrops; others bordered by island brush that includes wild sea-island cotton, remnants of the 18th-century plantations, and elegant sisal. Follow hiking or biking trails; when you get hot, take a swim in the shallow coves below. Be sure to visit Conch Bar Cave, a massive aboveground limestone cave system that was used by Lucayan Indians some 600 years ago.

• Diving the Wall off Grand Turk: You can find great scuba-diving spots throughout the TCI, including spectacular opportunities off Provo’s Northwest Point and in West Caicos. But Grand Turk’s electrifying dives are just some 274m (900 ft.) offshore, where the continental shelf drops off from the coral reef in dramatic fashion. Along the ledges of this sheer wall is marine life in all its eye-popping plumage.

• Whale-Watching on Salt Cay: From January through April, humpback whales migrate along the 7,000-foot trench of the Columbus Passage (which runs btw. the Turks islands and the Caicos islands) to the Silver Banks to mate and calf. You can actually snorkel and swim alongside these 15m (50-ft.) creatures.

• Finding treasures on the beach: The currents drop off a good amount of flotsam on these windward TCI beaches — much of it worthless junk. But hey, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Nearly every island has a visionary artist or two who finds inspiration (and raw materials) in beach salvage. Of course, you never know what will wash up: In 2006, silver pieces of eight and an 18th-century spyglass were picked up on the Salt Cay beaches. And bottles containing messages have found their way here from all over the world; the Turks & Caicos National Museum even has a collection of messages in a bottle. The water’s edge also yields gorgeous shells, from snow-white sand dollars to queen conch shells — but remember: Always return a shell back into the sea if it has something living inside. (And shell collecting is not permitted in the national parks.)

Text Courtesy Frommers.com

Taking your family on a Caribbean vacation? Children are normally content to stay on a beach and play in the sand all day, however when the afternoon sun hits its always a good idea to get under some shade or enjoy what the rest of the island has to offer. Here are out Top 5 family friendly things to do around the Turks and Caicos Islands.

#1 Little Water Cay – Iguana Nature Reserve
Visit this uninhabited national park on its own tiny island just a short boat ride from the main island of Provo. Its boardwalk around the iguana sanctuary gives you a glimpse into these dinosaur-like reptiles. Children of all ages will enjoy seeing these creatures that can grow to 80cm long. $5 entry fee per person or fee is included in certain tours in the area

#2 Fish Viewing / Snorkeling
Reef Peepers offers some great tours combined with snorkeling for all ages. The younger children can enjoy viewing exotic fish from the boats glass bottom while others can swim among them.

#3 Horseback Riding
Fulfill both yours and your child’s dream to ride horseback on a beautiful beach. Provo ponies have some of the tamest horses that get matched to each individuals riding ability. The horses ride right into the shallow waters of the Caicos Bank off Long Bay along the white sandy beaches. Prices start from $75pp for a 60-minute ride.

#4 Fun World
Located near Leeward Marina only a few miles from Grace Bay area, you will find a world of fun for children and adults alike: 18-hole Mini-Gold course, Go-cart racing, a 32-foot climbing wall and a huge video arcade. End your day with some lively karaoke at the bar and grill.

#5 Watersports
There are two well-known free snorkeling sites just off Grace Bay Beach (Coral Gardens and Smith’s Reef) for anyone with snorkel gear (complimentary from most resorts). Snuba is an island favorite for children over the age of 8yrs allowing shallow water diving. And then for the more active try waterskiing, wakeboarding or tubing with Nautique Sports.

Looking for a snorkeling adventure? Look no further than Reef Peepers….

Searching for the true beauty of the Turks and Caicos? Reef Peepers has the local knowledge and years of experience to take you on the trip of a lifetime. Read what they have to say…

“We now have two boats to serve you: our 40-foot power catamaran, the glass-bottom Reef Peeper, and our 48-foot sailing catamaran, the elegant Island Magic. You choose the adventure and we’ll take care of the rest.

Glass-Bottom Reef Peeper Tours

Climb aboard the Reef Peeper and prepare to be whisked away to sights unseen. Indulge yourself with a tour along the north coast of the island of Providenciales. You’ll discover beautiful uninhabited cays and visit pristine reefs far off the beaten path. We’re ready to provide anything your heart desires, from half-day snorkeling and glass-bottom boat tours, to romantic sunset cruises, to private charters all your own.

The Reef Peeper is a 40-foot power catamaran, custom-built in 2003 and powered by twin 150 horsepower outboard engines. The dual hulls of our catamaran mean stability and smooth cruising in almost any seas. We’ve tailored our operation to put your mind at ease. Our boat is outfitted with state-of the-art navigation and safety equipment. We’re fully licensed and insured, and staff our boat with a highly trained and certified crew.

With Captain Santo and First Mate Luke at the helm, you’ll appreciate the comfort and spaciousness of our boat as your worries slip away. To get you in the spirit of the Turks and Caicos, we’ll pump the beat of Caribbean rhythms through our sound system. You’ll be gliding just a few feet above one of the world’s most spectacular coral reefs. Our boat’s two see-through Plexiglass hulls provide our guests a front-row seat to view the magnificent coral reef and marine life gliding past beneath them.

For guests on our day tours, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to snorkel, swim, dive for conch, collect shells, and soak in the Caribbean sun. For participants in our evening tours, we offer spectacular sunsets and breathtaking sightseeing along the north shore of Provo. All of our tours include tasty snacks, refreshing beverages, and exceptional service. There’s no better way to experience the Turks and Caicos than aboard the Reef Peeper. Reserve online.

Looking for something completely out of the ordinary? Consider our Glow Worm Sunset Cruise. For a few nights every month, the glow worms put on a light show you won’t soon forget.

Island Magic Catamaran Tours

Our 48-foot, world-class catamaran, the Island Magic, is a world unto itself. With the sails billowing overhead and the tradewinds caressing your face, you’ll quickly understand why the Island Magic offers the perfect escape from the daily grind. Our catamaran has both sun and shaded, as well ample space to stretch out. It’s also fully equipped for your enjoyment and easy access to the water, regardless of the age or agility of your guests.

You’re welcome to join us for a half-day snorkeling tour or arrange a private charter of your own for a wedding, family reunion, business outing, or other special event. Reserve online.“

There’s a stylish new eatery on Grace Bay Beach!

Toronto restaurateur Franco Agostino, who previously owned a number of Toronto’s top restaurants (Il Post Nuovo, Caffe Doria and Banfi), has taken the helm as restaurant owner at the Gansevoort, Turks & Caicos. Just days ago, the oceanfront resort unveiled Stelle restaurant with a new Mediterranean-inspired menu showcasing fresh local fare. Choose a table in the redesigned dining room or dine under the stars by the infinity pool.

Here are some of the menu items:

Lobster Salad with Melon, Cucumber, Pickled Malaysian Fennel, Spiced Seaweed, Citrus Vinaigrette; Linguini Pescatore with Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Calamari; Beef Tenderloin with Tempura Croquette Potato, Pan Seared Asparagus, Glace de Viande; and Cornmeal Crusted Tuna Cauliflower Puree, Bok Choy, Salsa Verde. 

After your meal, be part of the happening lounge scene that buzzes late into the night.

We had a GREAT time on TCI -  so glad you recommended it!  Everything was just superb –  the villa was over the top and exceded our expectations.  The views were amazing – the kitchen, patios, etc  accomodated our group very well and was very comfortable for 8 people.  We loved that the island was so quiet and easy to get around, with restaurants and grocery store, etc so close.  The beaches were awesome and we snorkeled at Smith’s Reef 5 or 6 times.  We drove the island from tip to tip – and even walked out to the Northwest Point Preserve.  We all agreed it had been our best trip so far.  We will definitely keep Provo and Seabreeze in mind for a future trip.

Name withheld, Jan 2012 booking

The Turks and Caicos Islands is a country of 8 major islands and numerous uninhabited cays located 575 miles south of Miami. The first known inhabitants of the islands were Taíno Indians, who left evidence of their occupation in the form of utensils and a ball court.

Locals claim that the islands were the first landfall of Columbus in 1492. Some argue for Grand Turk, where a monument casts the claim in stone. The arrival of Europeans spelled the end for the Taínos, who had either been forced into slavery or had succumbed to European-borne diseases by the mid-16th century.

Over the next few centuries, ownership of the islands bounced between the French, Spanish and British, ending finally with Great Britain. Despite the colonial struggle for power, the islands’ development slowed down as they were not on the main sailing routes, possessed no gold or decent anchorage’s and lacked sufficient rain to grow sugar.

The islands’ remained virtually uninhabited until 1678, when a group of Bermudans settled and began extracting salt and logging trees. Salt traders cleared the land and created the salinas (salt-drying pans) that still exist on many islands. The majority of the salt went aboard boats to supply the cod-fishing industries of New England and the Maritime Provinces of Canada.The Bermudans prospered, getting the attention of the Spanish and Bahamian government. In 1766 the latter extended its jurisdiction to include the islands.

Like their northerly neighbours, the Turks and Caicos became a base for pirates, who were not averse to robbing the wealthy salt merchants’ homes. The pirates’ evil acts provoked a French attack in 1753, and France claimed the islands. The French were repelled the following year by a British warship from the Carolinas, though the French briefly occupied Grand Turk again in 1778 and 1783.

Following the American War of Independence, the Bermudans on the islands were joined by a group of colonial loyalists, who established cotton plantations. The loyalists brought their slaves, but the plantation era was short-lived: by 1820, the cotton crop had failed, and the majority of planters had moved on. Many left their slaves behind, and eventually they too became salt-rakers.

The archipelago’s political fortunes continued to fluctuate. It became a formal part of the Bahamas in 1799, but in 1848, following a petition by the Turks & Caicos residents, it became self-governing under the guidance of the Governor of Jamaica. In 1872 the islands were annexed to Jamaica and remained tied to Jamaica until 1962, when they were again linked to the Bahamas. In 1973 the Turks & Caicos became a separate Crown Colony of Great Britain.

The islands’ history over the past five decades has been quiet, though there was much excitement when astronaut John Glenn landed down just off Grand Turk in 1962. At about the same time, the islands were ‘discovered’ by seven millionaires (including Teddy Roosevelt III and a couple of the DuPonts), who leased land from the British government and built a small airstrip for their private planes and a deep-water anchorage for their yachts.

Meanwhile, Count Ferdinand Czernin, son of the last prime minister of the Austro-Hungarian empire, scouted a tiny dot on the map called Pine Cay, on which he planned a Walden Pond-like resort; after his death it became the exclusive Meridian Club resort. Then, in 1984, Club Med opened their resort and the Turks & Caicos started to boom.

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS CULTURE

The majority of islanders are black descendants from the early Bermudan, Loyalist and slave settlers and salt rakers dating back 300 years. The 1/2 inch thick telephone directory reflects this heritage, with long listings under the names Astwood, Butterfield, Forbes, Lightbourne, Stubbs, and Williams. Note the addresses of most homes in the directory. There are no street numbers and addresses are typically ‘behind Glass shack’, ‘Old Airport road’, or simply ‘Providenciales’ ! There a growing number of street signs in the past few years, directions are given by naming landmark buildings and it is presumed that someone will always be able to help you to find your way!

The Turks and Cacos immigrant population is a rapidly expanding group of Haitians, Dominicans and Cubans as well as many residents from all over the world. The majority are Canadian and American, but there are also residents from South Africa, Europe, Oceana, South America and Asia.

Local bands play anything from reggae, salsa to rake and scrape, all creating relaxing island vibes. Musicians appear at local restaurants, bars and hotels most evenings. With the increase in residents from throughout the Caribbean, the music is becoming more varied with a strong influence from the Dominican Republic. You can bring home the sounds of the Turks and Caicos on recordings by bands like Tropical Impulse, Sagittarius and Lovey Forbes. All are available in small shops throughout Provo and Grand Turk.

The artists on Turks & Caicos have started to blossom. Works by some of the country’s finest artists can be found in galleries on Providenciales and Grand Turk. Much of the art is inspired by the local scenery and marine life, with vibrant colors of the Caribbean. The Middle Caicos Artisans Coop in recent years has brought back the art of woven grass baskets and palm hats made from local plants by local people, of their own design. Building and sailing of the Caicos sloop has recently been revived by the Turks and Caicos Maritime Heritage Federation.

HOW WAS TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS NAME DERIVED?

The popular story is the name Turks being derived after the indigenous Turk’s Head “fez” cactus, and the name Caicos, a Lucayan term “caya hico,” meaning string of islands. A more romantic, origin of the name is a reflection of the Islands’ pirate history, when 17th and 18th century pirates used the islands as hideouts and preyed upon the passing Spanish treasure ships bound for Europe. The term “Turk” for a pirate stemmed two centuries earlier when the Ottoman Empire dominated the Mediterranean and Turkish corsairs harried European Atlantic shipping, thus translated “Turks” Islands becomes “Pirate” Islands! The non-intuitive nom is often mispelt as Turks and Cacos and Turk and Caicos Islands. We have even see an occasional envelope arrive with the address ‘Turks and Tacos’ ! And speaking of mail, some mail arriving here has been branded with a trail of postmarks showing its trip here via a small detour to Turkey. TCI uses the postal code BWI which represents British West Indies, a diversified group of Caribbean islands including Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Monserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, all dependent areas of the United Kingdom.

Courtesy of TCIMall

 Fishing: 30 & 31 March (Calcutta: 29 March)

1^st Place $5000.00

2^ndPlace $3000.00

3^rd Place $2000.00

$1000.00 a day (2 days) for heaviest fish caught

Sign up only $300.00 per 4 angler team.

Golfing: 1 April

1^st $1000.00 Gift Certificate @ The Wine Cellar

2^nd $800.00 Gift Certificate @ TWC

3^rd $600.00 Gift Certificate @ TWC

Plus many other great prizes and giveaways

The Golf Tournament will be in 4 per team/2 on 2 format. Traditional “best-ball” rules will apply and the winners will be announced at the closing ceremony.

Contact Provo Golf Club for further details and to register 649-946-5991

Anglers Do Not have to Golf and vice versa; but imagine of the fun you will have doing both!!

Proceeds donated to charity

Contact Desmond Williams at desmond@winecellar.tc  (649-232-2586) or visit www.wcgft.com for details