When
planning for your June adventures in Belize, no doubt, the annual
Placencia Lobsterfest should be on your calendar for a guaranteed
good time. Now in the planning stages for it's seventh consecutive
year, it is the fishing tournament, tradeshow, entertainment extravaganza,
lobster eating, all night partying, Belikin drinking festival
not to be missed. The Placencia Lobsterfest has
become a tradition in the last six years. Organized by the Placencia
Tourism Bureau and supported by many local businesses as well
as Belikin's Bowen & Bowen, it is growing bigger and better
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Workers
putting up a new tent Friday morning at Point Placencia. |
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On
the calendar, the Lobsterfest is held in Placencia each year
around the third weekend of June, in 2004 that was June 25th
through the 27th and it celebrates the opening of the Lobster
season. Belize observes not only a season, closed February 15
through June 15, but also a size limit for lobsters. Any lobster
that's tail weighs less than four ounces is supposed to be returned
into the ocean.
That
said, Placencia turned the beginning of the Lobster season into
one big party on the peninsula. For three days, live music,
good food and entertainment draw Belizeans as well as tourist
to Point Placencia.
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Thursday
evening all tents were in place and ready to go when a big storm
came though and lifted into the air the large tent that was
buckled down with two-feet long nails in the concrete. The tent
flew up and ripped into a power line. Friday morning the disaster
was great: the main tent ripped to pieces and no power at the
point. Then it got even worse when the repairs on the power
line cut into water main leaving parts of the village waterless.
Amazingly
quick the water situation was fixed, the power company got the
lines all repaired, Belikin sent another tent to Placencia and
it was up and running in time for the to first musical set of
The Coolie Rebels. From the registration for the annual Fishing
Tournament started until the last Belikin beer was sold, the
'6th Annual Placencia Lobsterfest' was a great weekend for all.
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Live
music was playing seemingly around the clock at the 6th Annual
Placencia Lobsterfest 2004
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Fresh
Lobster tail, with butter only, wrapped in tinfoil, ready
to go on the grill! |
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Saturday
morning the food vendors slowly arrived and set up their stoves
and coolers. There was great food everywhere, from creole lobster
to shrimp ceviche to conch chowder to BBQ mutton to tamales to
snow cones. BELIZEmagazine.com opted for BBQ grilled lobster and
hmm, was it great!
With
the steel drum music playing on and the hot sun shining down,
the consumption of ice cold beers and soft drinks was unimpeded.
Each night the live bands played until the morning hours and
the party went on.
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Conch
Ceviche |
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Creole
Lobster |
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| Registration
for the Fishing Tournament Friday evening in front of
the Placencia Tourist Information |
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Sunday,
the last day of the Fest, is marked by the arrival of the competitors
in the fishing tournament. One boat after the other arrives at
the point with confident looking fishermen. Then all the fish
are being weighed to determine the winners. Prices are given to
various categories such as the biggest shark, and of course, the
overall winner - Best Boat - is being determined.
And
for the non-fishing participants of the festival, there is always
hope to win the big price of the raffle. Supported by national,
international and local businesses, the prices range from trips
to the USA to accommodations at luxury hotels on the Placencia
Peninsula to snorkel trips to the reef. I didn't win anything,
but that doesn't matter. BELIZEmagazine.com had a great time,
and we definitely plan to be back next year!
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Weighing
of the catch of the day to determine the winners of this year's
fishing tournament at the pier at Point Placencia.
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Presentation
of the Prize for the Biggest Shark, sponsored by the Inn at
Robert's Grove.
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The
overall winner 'Best Boat' at the 2004 Placencia Lobsterfest
Captain Alfred Williams of the 'Yelling Wind' received this
price the third time in a row.
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