A lobster lover’s dream: the 2024 Placencia Lobsterfest

Do Not Miss The 2024 Placencia Lobsterfest

Traditionally, the summer months had been a slow season for businesses in Placencia, due to the annual lull in tourist arrivals. That is until a small chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) decided to team up with Green Parrot Resort to host an event that marked the opening of lobster season.

The result was the first Placencia Lobster Fest, held in June 1998. While its first incarnation was a humble gathering near the main dock of the Placencia harbor, it quickly grew into one of the most spectacular events on the Belizean Calendar.

Coinciding with the observance of Fisherman’s Day, celebrated by the local fishing cooperative, Lobster Fest has grown so much that the BTIA teamed up with the Placencia Village Council to relocate the festival to the beach in front of Placencia Village, to accommodate the increased influx of visitors.

Belizeans and tourists alike come from all over the country for the three-day event to experience the sights, sounds, energy, and most of all, the tastes. Attendees get to enjoy an extensive menu of lobster dishes, including lobster pies, grilled lobster, lobster pizza, and even lobster fajitas. Not into lobster? The vendors have got you covered. The festival hosts over 50 booths many of which are lined up to serve attendees various other mouthwatering Belizean cuisines. Attendees can also help the Belizean environment, by dining on the various delectable dishes made from the lionfish, a new attraction added to the festival in 2011.

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People come for the food but stick around for the entertainment, which includes live music, and a well-stocked bar, operated by the village council. The event also features games, which include Cast Net and Reel in the Dinghy- the games that started it all. In Cast Net, players attempt to throw a fishing net over a coin on the ground, in such a way that the coin ends up in the very center of the net. Players in Reel in the Dinghy, use a fishing rod to reel in occupied dinghies to shore.

Those feeling adventurous can participate in the annual Lionfish Tournament, where the contestant who catches the largest lionfish takes the prize.

While much of the groundwork is still underway to ensure a high-quality event, the official dates for the 2024 occasion have been set for July 5th through 7th.