It’s a national symbol of the Turks and Caicos, a local delicacy and the country’s No. 1 export. We’re talking, of course, about conch—the marine life that’s celebrated every year at the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival.

Visitors and locals celebrate the Turks and Caicos Conch Festival in the month of November. Restaurants from all over the island are on hand serving up their best conch dishes. There’s always a variety of conch recipes to choose from, ranging from traditional fare like conch salad, fritters and stew, to more eclectic dishes like conch wontons, empanadas, and yes—even conch pancakes.

In addition to the food, there is live music and entertainment—including the traditional conch shell blowing competition. And did we mention the festival is normally setup steps away from the beach?

The Conch Festival started in 2004 with the goal of bringing more people to Blue Hills, one of the original settlements of Providenciales. The charm of Blue Hills today is found in its lack of development, with the main Blue Hills Road running parallel with the ocean shore. Without a doubt, the road is the most scenic on the island and is worth the drive any time year. Blue Hills is mainly a residential area dotted with local restaurants and shops, offering visitors a look at what the island was like many years ago.

If you plan to go to the Conch Festival this year, be sure to go on an empty stomach. No doubt you’re going to leave a few pounds heavier—tis the season, after all.