Twenty Years Strong, Lobsterfest Relocating to the Point

Tasked to seek an alternative location for the 2018 Placencia Lobsterfest, the Placencia Village Council is busy preparing the southern tip of the Peninsula for a true seaside party experience.

Map shows approximate layout of the festival at the Placencia Point. Plans to build a permanent boardwalk at the publicly accessible part of the beach are underway.

Design: MICCIOLO PRODUCTIONS/PVC

By JOLIE POLLARD Editor in Chief The Placencia Breeze pollard.jolie@gmail.com

Upon its 20 th milestone, organizers of the Placencia Lobsterfest are making an ambitious change this year, relocating the festival to the stretch of sandy beach at the “Point” (or “Pint” pronounced in Placencia’s native Kriol). The name is given to the pointed tip at what could arguably be described as the southernmost end of the Peninsula and one of Placencia Village’s most convenient swimming spots (especially during sargassum invasions) with its calm waters near the opening of the channel by the Placencia Municipal Pier.

The logistical change has proven to be a challenging undertaking for the Placencia Village Council (PVC) who estimate costs to set up in the area to be near BZ$60K. With the fest having grown into a major fundraising event that now boasts over 40 vendors, the PVC must install electrical and water outlets at the site and is even building a permanent boardwalk that will allow the transportation of equipment, as well as providing access to wheelchairs. Cost estimates of the boardwalk alone are near BZ$35K.

According to PVC Chairwoman Ilsa Villanueva, Lobsterfest had to be moved from its previous location between Tipsy Tuna Seaside and Sports Bar and Cozy Corner Restaurant and Hotel, as one of the owners of the private beach front property intends to start development soon, which left the PVC the task of seeking alternative sites. “We knew we had to be near the water to properly pay homage to our fishing heritage,” said Villanueva, who has been planning Lobsterfest logistics with the PVC for the past nine years. “This is a tradition we cannot afford to let die – although we are uncertain how much longer we’ll have enough lobsters around to cause for celebration,” she added.

Carefully studying what was accessible at the Point in line with the clause in the Belize National Lands Act that allows public use of beach front 66 feet in from the high water mark, the PVC with the help of volunteers, have created a layout that will provide a true beach side experience to visitors. Villanueva thanks Charles “Dickie” Bradley of the fire department who has been busy working on the boardwalk project, her fellow councilors for their guidance and other community members including Justin Linarez of Go Sea Tours, Stephen Mitchell of Cha Chi’s and local contractor Martin Galvez who shared their expertise to develop the planned layout.

“This is a big investment for us, and we’re hoping that the money we collect from vendor fees and bar sales will go back into covering these expenses,” Villanueva said. With the boardwalk and water and electrical outlets in place, the PVC is hoping to make the Point a venue available for other events in the future adding an additional means of income for the Village. (Currently the PVC is able to sustain its projects with money coming in from private donors, the annual Lobsterfest, liquor licensing fees and kiosk rentals at the Pier and along the football field.)

In addition to an entirely new layout, Villanueva said visitors should be excited to see three bars at this Lobsterfest including a frozen and blended drinks bar run by Justin Linarez to beat the summer heat.

“We are thrilled for first-timers and longtime visitors to Placencia Lobsterfest to participate in this experience. We need their support even if it’s just for a one-day visit during the weekend,” Villanueva said. “Lobsterfest functions as a significant booster for local tourism in the summer and brings in revenue to so many businesses. In conjunction with the Placencia BTIA, we are doing everything we can to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.”

The Placencia BTIA started Lobsterfest in 1998 close to the Point with just a few tables selling food under a tent in front of the harbor at the end of the Placencia Road. They later joined forces with the PVC and continued at the solid ground location before moving to the beach near Tipsy Tuna. While that location that ran from in front of the pier towards the old gas station by Brenda's Caribbean Cooking was under consideration for this year's event, Villanueva said the PVC foresaw traffic congestion to pose a major hindrance to a proper execution of today's enormous Lobsterfest.

To volunteer at the PVC bars or secure a booth at the event, contact PVC Office Assistant Reyanna Majano at 523-3396. The deadline for booth registration falls on June 15, and the full threeday weekend cost per space for craft booths is set at $150 and $250 for food vendors.▪