The Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest will be held on Saturday, March 7th at 1:30 pm in the garden of he Oldest House.
In it’s 47th year, the contest celebrates the historic importance of the conch in the Keys. While islanders are used to the conch from a culinary perspective--conch meat, conch fritters, conch chowder—the conch is intertwined with the culture of Key West. The conch is a sturdy sea mollusk that has a shell that was used by the Calusa Indians for communication due to its far-reaching sound. In addition, conch shells were used by sailors as fog horns and by the early Key West people to signal salvagers that a sinking ship was spotted offshore. This is how the native Key Westers that claim themselves Conchs have made the island the Conch Republic.
The contest is sponsored by the Old Island Restoration Foundation and receives national and international coverage. The “Conch Honks” will be judged on quality, duration, loudness and the novelty of the sound produced. Conch shells will be available for purchase and the contest is for novice as well as expert conch shell blowers. Contestants may register with the Oldest House Museum as space remains available by calling (305) 294-9501. The Oldest House is located at 322 Duval Street in Key West.
Additionally, Auwina Weed, the “virtuoso of the conch shell” will perform. She will entertain contestants and onlookers as she demonstrates the art of conch shell blowing……
Interested in life as a Conch in Key West? Visit BeachsideKeyWest to see our exquisite properties for sale in Key West.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment