Discover Trinidad & Tobago 2016 — 25th Anniversary Edition

Above: Great Race action. Photo by Nicholas Bhajan
Opposite page: a majestic silk cotton tree. Photo by Chris Anderson
Great FEte & Great Race
Tobago Fest
The Great Race (August), first held in 1969,
sees speed-boats sprint about 115 miles
from Port of Spain’s waterfront (Trinidad)
early in the morning, arriving in Scarborough
(Tobago) two to three hours later — and
concluding with lots of partying. Originally
tied to Great Race festivities, Great Fete
Weekend (July/August) is now a separate
five-day beach party at Store Bay, Pigeon Pt
and Mt Irvine.
Community tradition:
“pulling seine”
One custom which you’re likely to come across
on Tobago’s beaches is the communal retrieving
of fishing nets cast close to shore. Once they’ve
spotted shoals of fish, fishermen in boats drop
the net in a circle from the shore. Any and
everybody can help to pull in the catch, part of
which you’re welcome to in return for your assistance.
This Carnival-style event features a Parade of
Bands, a Queen Contest, Night Mas, J’ouvert,
soca concerts, and steelband music.
Blue Food Festival
Each October, this truly unique culinary experience
sees the dasheen plant — all of it!
— used to prepare various mouth-watering
dishes, including bread, cookies,
lasagne, and even ice-cream. A
cooking competition is the festival
highlight: skilled cooks compete
to create fine dishes from
dasheen. “Blue food” covers
any root crop, like sweet potato,
cassava, or yam. Some
varieties of dasheen can turn
blue or indigo when cooked, so
the expression has become a
catch-all for root crops in general.
The festival takes place
in the countryside around
Bloody Bay, L’Anse Fourmi
and Parlatuvier.
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