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By: Conch Color

It’s time for one of the most popular Key West events of the season, affectionately called the “Conch Honk.” You’ll hear unusual musical expressions created on conch shells by enthusiastic children and adults who will pucker up
and demonstrate their shell- blowing talents before a panel of distinguished judges.
This 48th Annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, sponsored by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, will begin at 1:00 pm on March 6 in the garden of the Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St. in Key West.
This fun, and free, event celebrates the more serious historic importance of the conch in the Florida Keys, where the far-reaching sounds from conch shells were used by the Calusa Indians for communication, by sailors as fog horns, and by early Key Westers to signal salvors that a sinking ship was spotted offshore.
MCs are Gery Tinlin and Wendy Carlisle. The celebrity judges, including Mayor Craig Cates, County Commissioner Heather Carruthers and popular musician and teacher Joe Dallas, bring years of experience and discriminating musical taste to the daunting task of determining
the prize winners in several age categories: 5 years and under, 6 to 11, 12-17, 18 and over solo, and 18 and over group, including seniors. Entrants are judged on the quality, duration and loudness, and novelty of the sound they produce.
There are no entry or admission fees. Contestants may register for the event at the Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St., from 10am to 12:30 on March 6 or at the event itself. For more information call 294-9501.

By: Conch Color - March 05, 2010