If you would like to learn about the coral reef, become a coral reef expert and have fun with us and your friends, come to the Coral Reef Ed-Ventures program! Sponsored by Smith College and Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
Advanced Program
Who: Students ages 12 and above (or with prior experience)
When: June 20th – June 24th, 4–6 pm
Where: San Pedro High School
Movie Night at the Lion’s Den
When: Wednesday, June 15th. All are welcome. Free snacks and drinks! Look for posters in town.
Youth Program
Who: Students ages 7 – 12
When: July 4th – July 13th
Where: RC School
There will be a graduation at the end of the programs for all students and family members to attend. Graduation will be on Wednesday, July 13th at the Lion’s Den. Everything is free and fun!
Permission slips will be available at the library across from the RC School and at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office! We look forward to seeing you there!
The Most SpEcTaCuLaR HALLOWEEN Bash in San Pedro Town, Belize! Mark Your Calendar, October 29, 2016 at Holiday Hotel! It will be a Hell of a Party!
BBQ lovers of San Pedro are invited to join once again in the 6th Annual BBQ Cookoff on February 6th, 2017 at Estel’s by the Sea. This year 12 grill masters have been invited to take the quench in competing for the titles of: Grand Champion, People’s choice, and Judge’s choice. Lots of appetizers and drink specials. It will be a smokin good time! All proceeds go to the Sunshine foundation!
It’s not just a day……it’s an entire weekend of fun with music, food, and cultural performances. Mark your calendar and come down to Hopkins, Stann Creek, Belize for the weekend of July 28th – July 30th. You surely don’t want to miss Hopkins Day!!
Organized by the Hopkins Village Council, Hopkins Day celebrates the area’s natural beauty, timeless traditions and authentic Garifuna heritage. The liveliness of the people is infectious, Mingling with the residents on this special occasion will give you some unique experiences to write home about!
Everyone loves the live music from talented local artists, where dancing and drumming are non-stop. There is always an impressive lineup of live entertainment, a wide variety of food and drinks on sale throughout the weekend. You are dared you to try the coconut husking contest, or hudut eating contest. With traditional and not-so-traditional games and activities, you are sure to be entertained.
Hopkins Day Schedule of Events
The Belize National Celebrations Commission and municipal celebrations committees around the nation organize a line-up of more than 100 events. There truly is something for every Belizean looking to celebrate patriotism and with events in every corner of the country, a party is not hard to find. Below are some of the the 2017’s Calendar of Events for the September Celebrations under the theme “Belize Confronting Challenges, Renewing Our Resolve!” (Updates as they become available)
Currently the September Calendar is not ready but you can still save the date…
*Aug. 31. Beliken Fest.
*Sept. 1. Beliken Fest
*Sept. 2. King and Queen
Queen of the Bay
Beliken Fest
*Sept. 4. Atriotic songs and poem
*Sept. 8. SOS
Wet Fete feat. Patrice Roberts
*Sept. 9. Jouvert
Carnival
After carnival jump-up
*Sept. 10. Citizen Parade
Jump up at BTL Park
*Sept. 15. Soundfest
*Sept. 16. Expo
*Sept. 17. Expo
*Sept. 20. Jazz Fest feat. Machel Montano
Love Fm Independence Eve
*Sept. 21. official ceremony belmopan.
Independence parade
Orange walk carnival 3pm
*Sept. 23. Turbulence concert
The Toledo Chocolate Festival of Belize is a unique blend of southern Belize nature, adventure, and culture! Cocoa has played a dominant role from ancient times, when the Maya first discovered the ‘magical’ process that transformed cacao into chocolate, right through to the modern day. The Toledo District of southern Belize is home to the organic cacao orchards where the pods are grown, harvested and processed, and later transformed into chocolate.
The Chocolate Festival works hard to raise awareness of the Toledo District, its unique cultural and environmental diversity, promote sustainable tourism throughout the District, and extend the tourist season for the benefit of the entire community.
Every Commonwealth Day Holiday Weekend (late May) Belize celebrates this marvelous food, and many devoted followers return to Toledo each year to find out what’s new in the world of chocolate making. This will be the 12th year the Festival will be growing awareness of Belizean chocolate, and continue to capture a wider international audience.
Join us for a three-day celebration of Belizean chocolate and the cacao-driven culture of the Toledo District. Use the links on the left to learn more about the Festival. Packed with activities for the young and old alike, Cacao Fest pays tribute of the organic Cacao farmers and Belizean Chocolatiers and is a celebration of cacao, culture and the rich flavors of the Toledo District. The dates for this year’s event are the 18th- 20th May 2018.
[su_heading size=”20″ align=”left”]PRE CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL BASH[/su_heading] Friday,May 18, 2018 – 10pm – 4amThis year’s Chocolate Festival of Belize kicks off on Friday, May 18 with a grand dance featuring the X-BAND at the Punta Gorda Civic Center hosted by the Punta Gorda Town Council! They will also be performing at the Taste of #Toledo Street Fair the following day!
The Taste of Toledo Street Fair is held on Front Street in Punta Gorda Town, from the Uno gas station all the way to the Punta Gorda library. The pedstrian-only street fair features cultural displays and areas showcasing Toledo’s five main ethnic groups: Kriol, Maya, Garifuna, Mestizo and East Indian. Each area displays art, food and music from their culture; it is like going from a Maya town to a Garifuna town in just a few steps.
Barbecued food, chocolate making, kayak trips, chocolate farm trips, there’s something for everyone. Taste exciting new chocolate flavors, buy local food, crafts and relax with a cold beer while enjoying live music on stage outside the court building.
As you’d expect at a chocolate festival, each booth has some connection with chocolate or cacao, from chocolate soaps to hand-carved wooden masks depicting cacao. The Belize chocolatiers will also be on hand to talk about chocolate and provide an opportunity for you to buy their many and varied creations.
As always, children can get involved with the Chocolate Festival through our Cacao for Kids activities, leaving parents free to enjoy the street fair whilst knowing that their children are in a safe, supervised environment. Event from 9am – 5pm.
Cacao for Kids activities include:
*face painting
*finger painting
*jewelry making
*games
Wine and Chocolate Event- 7pm
This year’s WINE & CHOCOLATE event promises to be another spectacular night to remember, featuring exotic & decadent chocolate foods & desserts like you’ve never seen before! Come experience it! Saturday, May 19th starting at 7pm at Garbutt’s Marine featuring Pandemonium Steel Orchestra!
The Chocolate Festival finale always take place on the Sunday at 10:00 am to 5pm, it will be held at the Nim Li Punit Temple Grounds, located 45 minutes inland from Punta Gorda Town. There are live performances throughout the day, this will feature musical performances from Mayan harp groups, Marimba and as well as the Ancient Maya Ball Game (Pok ta Pok) played by the Maya Team from Yo Creek, Orange Walk District. There are always a range of drinks made from cacao combined with corn or pepper and other ingredients and food stalls that offers ethnic Mayan dishes.
Local crafts from hammocks and tie-tie baskets to slate and calabash carvings will be on sale and visitors will have the chance to try their own hand at craft making and appreciate the skill that goes into their creation.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Paddle! – Paddle for fun, paddle for a purpose, paddle for health or paddle for a challenge at the Ambergris Caye Lagoon Reef Eco Challenge. All kayak paddlers are asked to get ready for the Annual Lagoon Reef Eco-Challenge that has been set for May 26 and 27, 2018.
The Ambergris Caye Lagoon-Reef Eco Challenge, is a 42 miles, two-day kayak race starting on the lagoon side of Ambergris Caye, through the many lagoons in the North Ambergris Caye Area, up to Bacalar Chico, then down to Robles Point, where all teams camp and the race then resumes the following day and finishes at the Central Park, in San Pedro Town.
The race will start at 6:30AM from the Sunset Boulevard near the Honourable Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex, heading north through the mangrove channels of the lagoon area of Ambergris Caye. The race route takes competitors on a thrilling 2-days of fun starting from the San Pedro Lagoon through more than 12 lagoons in the North Ambergris Caye area, including Laguna de Mata, Laguna de Cayo Frances, Laguna de Cantena, Los Arenales, and Laguna de Mexico. Other beautiful points that are traversed during the race are the San Juan Area, Boca Bacalar Chico, Robles Point, Basil Jones, Punta Azul, and Mexico Rocks.
Lagoon Reef Eco Challenge Route
Day 1 – 25 miles
Lagoon side behind football in town – 6:30 a.m.
Sir Barry Bowen Bridge
Basil Jones Area in Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve (paddlers camp out for the night)
Day 2 – 17 miles
Basil Jones Camp site – 9 a.m.
San Pedro Town
Awards
Awards are cash prizes given to the top three finishers (along with a trophy for first place) in each category (such as three winners for Adult Female, three winners for Junior Co-ed, etc.)
The Lagoon Reef Eco Challenge aims to “promote awareness, protection and conservation of mangroves, lagoons, reefs and the diverse species found in these natural habitats off the coast of Ambergris Caye.” The idea was birthed by Elito Arceo, from San Pedro Town, who is known to be an environmentalist and community activist.
Anyone interested in giving a donations whether it be in cash or gift certificate can kindly contact Elito Arceo at 610-1690 or Seaduced by Belize Office at 226-2554.
During this free, two-day festival, Mango Fest attendees enjoy mango-themed food offerings as well as non-mango dishes, browse locally made arts and crafts, while hearing the musical talent of Hopkins as well as other talented artists from around Belize and the world.
The Hopkins Mango Fest committe’s (HMF) goal is to promote Hopkins as a tourist destination in a fashion that builds on Hopkins uniqueness and promotes cultural preservation. This is done by featuring authentic Garifuna food and music through a clean, wholesome, culinary and culturally fun festival. It also provides economic opportunities during a time that has traditionally been referred to as “maga season” or thin season.
FOOD:
Hopkins is a blessed with an abundance of good food and is quickly becoming a culinary destination as there are about two dozen restaurants in our village of 2,500. Hopkins also has many “fast food” places that sell panades, street tacos, conch fritters, tamales, pastries, and other unique food items. The festival has a fusion of foods from all the cultures in Belize—Garifuna, Creole, Caribbean, European, and North American influences. Be prepared to sample such delights as mango chimole, chicken kebabs with mango salsa, ceviche, mango chutney, mango smoothies. There will also be many other non-mango food items such as the national dish of Belize-stew chicken, rice and beans, pizza, tacos, hamburgers, sausage on a stick, and much more!
MUSIC:
The Mango Fest Committee plans on featuring live music throughout the day that showcases the best of Belize and of Hopkins. Did you know three of the five members of the Garifuna Collective are from Hopkins? Plan on hearing Paranda music (Belize’s version of the blues,) Caribbean rhythms, Ray-gay, and much more. Check the Mango Fest Facebook Page regularly to see as the acts are confirmed for the festival.
ACTIVITIES:
Mango Fest Saturday, June 2:
6am – Floyd Arana Fishing & Tours hosts a dory fishing contest.
10am – Jungle Jeanie’s by the Sea hosts a yoga session for all ages and skill levels. Come stretch to the music of ocean waves.
2pm – Miss Bertie’s Hopkins Community Library is hosting children’s’ story hour.
3pm – Dory fishing contest, weigh in.
Mango Fest Sunday, June 3:
10am – Jungle Jeanie’s by the Sea hosts a yoga session for all ages and skill levels. Come stretch to the music of ocean waves.
Related Link: Eat as Many Mangoes as I Could at Hopkins Mango Fest
The San Pedro Lobster Festival – Voted #1 Festival in Belize! A Huge Block Party culminates the week long activities celebrating all things lobster on Ambergris Caye. As soon as Lobster Season opens on June 14, the activities kick off, including a Lobster Pub Crawl, Concerts, Special Dinner Events and Parties all around the island.
The San Pedro Business Association present…
The 13th annual San Pedro Lobster Festival kicking off on Thursday, June 13th, 2019!
The San Pedro Lobster Festival is an annual event that celebrates the reopening of lobster season in Belize. The first festival was held in 2007 with a week of nightly events leading up to one epic block party. Over the past 10 years the festival has evolved into a 10 day festival filled with over 20 great activities and incredible lobster themed foods!
San Pedro Lobster Festival Block Party starts at 5PM at the Central Park, featuring Panerrifix Steel Band, Local Musical Performances and Music By DJ Debbie!
Mark your calendars now to join us for this year’s festival! The activities kick off on June 13th with the opening party. There will be daytime and night time events leading up to the Lobster Fest Central Park Block Party on Saturday, June 22rd, 2019!
Each guest attending the Lobster Crawl is given a Lobster Festival “Passport”
In the passport there is a page for each of the day and night Lobster Festival events; for each page that guests get stamped by the participating venue they are entitled to a raffle ticket. Then on June 21, guests bring their “Passport” to Central Park to the Lobster Festival’s official sponsor’s booth. One lucky participant will win a vacation package for 2 to attend the San Pedro Lobster Festival 2019!!
The vacation package includes complimentary local airfare, hotel stays, tours, golf cart rental, bar tabs, dinners, massages and much more!
