Turks & Caicos Music & Cultural Festival

Turks & Caicos is proud to be the home of the annual Turks & Caicos Annual Music and Cultural Festival, an event celebrating the all things…musical…and cultural. Each summer, the islands attempt to draw tourists to their shores by offering world class music events with acts that just don’t tour a lot of places in the United States. This year is the Fifth Annual Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival, taking place from July 28 to August 4, 2008 (my birthday), and the spotlight is on Lionel Richie (you know, Nicole’s dad), Anita Baker, LL Cool J, Ne-Yo and T-Pain.

“Summer is an exciting time to visit Turks & Caicos and we invite travelers to join the festivities as we celebrate the Turks & Caicos Fifth Annual Music and Cultural Festival,” said Ralph Higgs, director of tourism, marketing at the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board. “Recognized as a chic, jet-set destination, Turks & Caicos will become even more appealing this summer with spectacular specials offering guests access to our stunning tropical paradise and one of the Caribbean’s hottest events.”

Summer is the low season in the Caribbean, with rates much lower than the in season. The following resorts throughout Providenciales are offering packages for the festival

Ocean Club Resorts: Ocean Club Resorts are offering 20% off nightly room rates when you book four nights or more during the festival. Ocean Club is made up of two resort properties that are a short shuttle ride (for the lazy) or walk from each other and offer convenient reciprocal charging. You can dine at any of three restaurants, chill out in any of the three pools or work on your swing at any of three tennis courts. Each property features a dive shop, fitness center, Spa Tropique and water sport rental. Rates start at $195 per night for a Studio Island View Suite.

Somerset on Grace Bay: Somerset on Grace Bay, an inductee into the Conde Nast Johansens’ prestigious luxury hotel guide for 2007 and one of the few select members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is offering a festival package, including accommodations, welcome signature drink upon arrival (Mmmm), daily continental breakfast, round trip airport transfers, non-motorized water sports, and a daily afternoon tea. Festival tickets for two are included in this particular package. Rates for this package start at $1,500 for three nights and four days’ accommodations in a Luxury Room Garden View Suite.

Grace Bay Club: The Grace Bay Club‘s Turks & Caicos Music and Cultural Festival package including six nights’ accommodation in a Junior Suite and four-day Festival passes for two people for $3,556 inclusive of tax and service charge. The package runs from July 27 to August 6, 2008. In addition to the above, the package includes one night complimentary, a dinner for two at Anacaona’s oceanfront fine dining restaurant, a 50-minute therapeutic massage at Anani Spa, daily continental breakfast in the restaurant, and fruit basket en suite on arrival.

Nikki Beach Resort: The Nikki Beach Resort is offering special pricing on their rates for the festival, starting at $1,550 for three nights’ accommodations in the Deluxe King Room Oceanfront Suite and four-day Festival passes for two people. Your stay at Nikki Beach will include European-designed kitchens and state of the art technology like flat-screen HDTVs and complimentary wireless internet access.

Ticket prices range from $75 per day to $275 for a four day pass.

The line up includes Lionel Richie, Anita Baker; T-Pain, Ne-Yo and LL Cool J, JT Taylor, former lead singer for Kool & The Gang; Russell Thompkins & The New Stylistics, famed Philadelphia soul group; and Lou Gramm, vocalist from the rock band Foreigner; and local Turks & Caicos artists.

For more information and tickets go to musicfestival.tc/.