Turks and Caicos Official Public Holidays

The Valentine's Day Cup model sailboat race at Bambarra Beach, Middle Caicos.

The Turks and Caicos Islands usually have 12 official public holidays per year (also called bank holidays, national holidays, or government holidays). When these holidays fall on a weekend, they are ‘observed' on the next following weekday. Government offices are closed on public holidays. Banks also shut down. Many private sector businesses, including those in the tourism industry, are open. An exception is Christmas Day, when most businesses are closed.

Renamed Holidays

Two holidays have been renamed in recent years. JAGS McCartney Day was previously National Heros Day, meant to commemorate all National Heros of the Turks and Caicos. However, JAGS McCartney, the nation’s first Premier, remains to this day the only official National Hero, and the holiday was renamed in 2020 to simply JAGS McCartney Day.

National Heritage Day, celebrated in October each year, was formerly titled Columbus Day. There had been a trend worldwide to rename this holiday and the Turks and Caicos has followed suit.

Cultural and Sports Events

Mario Robinson with his boat Sun 2 Sun, winner of the 2019 Fisherman's Day race.

The Turks and Caicos has a number of fun and interesting sports, culinary, and cultural events, typically held on an annual basis. Some great events include the Valentine's Day Cup, which is a model sailboat race held at Bambarra Beach on Middle Caicos, Maskanoo, which is a street festival held in Grace Bay, and Caribbean House Evolution, a music and boat party held at Water Cay.

Dining and food events in the Turks and Caicos include the Thursday Fish Fry and the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival.

The Turks and Caicos is an exceptional location for water sports. Most sports events are homegrown by enthusiasts, such as the Race for the Conch open water swim races and the Wine Cellar Golf and Fishing Tournament.