This Caribbean Island Is Gearing Up for Its Biggest Weekend of the Year — With Lobster
The quiet, windswept edge of the British Virgin Islands is about to come alive again. Anegada’s restaurants, beach bars, guesthouses, and tour operators are in the final stretch of preparations for the 13th Annual Anegada Lobster Festival, returning from Nov. 28–30, 2025. What began as a small celebration of the island’s signature lobster has evolved into one of the BVI’s most anticipated culinary weekends, a three-day island-wide adventure produced by the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board & Film Commission in partnership with the Anegada community.
The format remains the same, and that’s what makes it so addictive. Festivalgoers spend the weekend exploring Anegada with an Anegada Passport in hand, collecting stamps and tasting creative lobster dishes across nine participating restaurants. It’s part scavenger hunt, part cultural tour, and part culinary pilgrimage — a three-day journey that blends the island’s unspoiled scenery with its rich food culture and warm, unhurried hospitality. Every stop becomes a snapshot of Anegada: remote beaches, legendary conch mounds, flamingo lookouts, open-air kitchens, and the kind of island energy that makes the festival feel as much about the people as it is about the food.
A Warm Island Welcome
The celebration begins the moment travelers arrive at the dock. Live music from fan favorite Two Smooth fills the air as festivalgoers step off the ferry, greeted with complimentary cocktails from Caribbean Cellars and handed the official Anegada Passport. Inside are maps, restaurant listings, attraction callouts and space for the weekend’s stamp trail. The BVI Tourist Board booth will also be open on Nov. 29 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., offering official Lobster Festival merchandise and giveaways before guests set off on their island routes.
Getting to Anegada
This year brings expanded ways to reach the festival, with scheduled ferries, car barges and private water taxis operating from Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, St. John and St. Thomas. Fly BVI will serve the Beef Island–Anegada route by air, and Fly the Whale will operate a special flight from St. Croix to Anegada on Nov. 29. Full schedules are published on the BVI Food Fete Website and Facebook page, making it easier than ever to plan a day trip or a full weekend stay.
Getting Around the Island
Free festival shuttles will run between participating restaurants from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Independent taxis will also be available throughout the weekend, operating under official Government Taxi Tariff rates.
More Than Just Lobster
Anegada’s signature sites will play a major role in the festival weekend. Visitors can explore Flamingo Point Lookout, wander the towering Conch Shell Mounds of Conch Island, visit the Faulkner House Museum, stroll Fisherman’s Wharf, or see conservation in action at the Iguana Headstart Facility. Those looking for more adventure will find no shortage of options, including snorkeling, kiteboarding, kayaking, horseback riding, scooter rentals, and this year’s newest addition, ATV tours.
It all adds up to a festival that is uniquely Anegada — relaxed, spirited, and full of the island’s unmistakable charm — a celebration that brings the community and visitors together for one unforgettable November weekend
Caitlin Sullivan began her career with Caribbean Journal as Arts and Culture editor before shifting to travel full time. She writes frequently on the Caribbean cruise industry, flight networks and broader travel news. Her most frequent Caribbean destination? Nassau.
