January
Junkanoo, island-wide. Junkanoo is held throughout the year for public holidays and local events, but the biggest Junkanoo celebrations are on Emancipation Day, Boxing Day, and the early morning of New Year's Day. Groups compete against each other for the most outrageous costumes, the best drummers, the best rhythm section, and more. Midnight to sunrise, New Year's Day morning.
February
Valentine's Day Cup, Bambarra Beach, Middle Caicos. Traditional Model Sailboat Race, with trophies and other prizes, is followed by music, dancing, food, and other festivities on the beach. The model sailboats are built in Bambarra from branches of the gum-elemi tree, constructed to scale with the actual rigging found on a full-size sloop. For more information, contact tel. 649/941-7639 or middlecaicos@tciway.tc. Saturday closest to Valentine's Day.
March
St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl, Providenciales. Now in its 20th year, the crawl generally starts at the Tiki Hut and ends up at Danny Buoy's, with lots of suds along the way. Contact tel. 649/231-1645. March 17.
April
Annual Kite-Flying Competition, the Children's Park, Lower Bight Road, Providenciales. The 20th Annual Kite-Flying Competition in 2010 featured awards for best homemade kites, a beach party, an Easter egg hunt, and food and music. Contact tel. 649/946-4970. Easter Monday.
May
Big South Regatta, South Caicos. The Big South Regatta, a tradition since 1967, features boat races, concerts, food, and entertainers. Contact tel. 649/946-4970. Last weekend in May.
June
Caicos Classic IGFA Billfish Release Tournament, Providenciales. The Rotary Club of Providenciales sponsors this annual fishing competition, now in its 25th year, with an emphasis on regional billfish, including the Atlantic blue marlin, the Atlantic sailfish, and the white marlin. Go to https://caicosclassic.tc. Early June.
August
Emancipation Day, island-wide. Celebrating the freeing of the slaves, declared from Oddfellows Lodge in Grand Turk in 1834. August 1.
Middle Caicos Day, Middle Caicos. Parades, beauty pageants, music, food, bonfires, straw-weaving competitions, and an all-day beach party at Bambarra Beach. Contact tel. 649/941-7639 or middlecaicos@tciway.tc. Last weekend in August.
September
National Youth Day, island-wide. This public holiday celebrates the youth of the island. September 29.
October
Columbus Day, island-wide. This public holiday celebrates Columbus's "discovery" of the New World. Some historians believe that the explorer first came ashore at Grand Turk. October 9.
November
Museum Day, Grand Turk. The Turks & Caicos National Museum celebrates the anniversary of its opening with loads of activities, including song and dance performances by local schoolchildren. For more information, go to www.tcmuseum.org or call tel. 649/946-2160. Saturday closest to November 21 (the day the museum opened in 1991).
Caribbean Food & Wine Festival, Providenciales. Popular food festival with gourmet safaris, dinners under the stars, visits from international chefs, tastings, music, and more. For details, see http://caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com. November.
Turks & Caicos International Film Festival (TCIIF), Providenciales. This weekend affair is all about film, but with a focus on the ocean and natural environments. It's got premieres, master classes, and genuine movie stars, like Delroy Lindo. For more information, go to www.tciff.org. Mid-November.
December
Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony, Providenciales. The Providenciales Kiwanis Club invites the public to the Downtown Ball Park for Christmas festivities, including a choir and a visit from Santa Claus. Mid-December.
Old Year's Night, island-wide. Services at churches all over the country ring out the old and ring in the new. December 31.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
