Why does St Andrews have a "Conch Festival?"

PANAMA CITY– Although Key West is famously known as the “Conch Republic,” St. Andrews has its own distinct spin on the nautical culture of conch shell blowing.

Found in historic St. Andrews, Little Village brings together long-time locals and travelers from across the Florida Panhandle.

The tradition of conch shell blowing in Florida dates back well before the 1800s with Native Americans. They would knock off the spire—the pointed end of the shell—to create a mouthpiece.

The reverberating tone carried for miles, warning nearby communities of danger or imminent attacks. Over time, the shell served many other practical purposes beyond acting as a signal horn.

By the 1800s, mariners used conch shells to signal that their vessel was in distress or wrecked.

This practice was well-documented in the Florida Keys, popularized by Bahamian immigrants known as “Conchs.” As time went on, communities relied on the shell's sound to alert residents to fresh fish arriving, incoming goods, or local gatherings.

In St. Andrews, this tradition was revived by William “Bill” Tant (known to locals as “Cap’n Scuba”)

Famous for sounding his conch at events throughout the area, Cap’n Scuba eventually created what locals consider the anthem of St. Andrews. Every evening at dusk, he would head to the bay shore at the marina or the historic Harbormaster’s house and deliver four long, deliberate blasts on his shell.

To Cap’n Scuba, it was a salute to “a day well lived,” signaling to locals that the day was winding down.

When Cap’n Scuba passed away in 2013, residents gathered at the shore each evening, picking up their own shells to carry on his sunset anthem.

Before his passing, he personally mentored Mary Lou “Queen of Conch” and trained her and shared the art of conch shell blowing. He showed her the significance and spirit behind his evening salute. After he passed, she and her friends took it upon themselves to continue that evening tradition to honor him.

Mary Lou also went on to compete in the 56th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest in Key West (which we know as the “Conch Republic), in 2018. She presented her talent in the art, using four different types of shells to showcase her range of abilities. She took first place in the women’s division, and also her fellow conch shell blower, Rick Race, proposed to her on stage as they sounded their horns together afterwards.

To honor his legacy, Little Village—sponsored by Finn’s Island Style Grub—hosted the 5th Annual Little Village Conch Shell Festival on September 19, 2026. The event was emceed by Mary Lou Smith Race, the “Queen of Conch,” whom Cap’n Scuba personally mentored.

The festival featured local live music, children’s arts and crafts, and the main event: the Cap’n Scuba Memorial Conch Shell Blowing Contest. The competition included five categories: children (under 12), teens (12–17), adult men and women (18+), and the “longest blow.”

Peggy Nielsen, known as the “Conch Shell Princess,” demonstrated the technique for a member of The Longleaf. “The art of conch shell blowing starts with your lip placement, along with air control from your diaphragm,” Nielsen explained.

She noted that the shell doesn't make a sound on its own; rather, the air passed through buzzing lips uses the shell as an amplifier.

Thanks to the efforts of community leaders like Race and Nielsen, Cap’n Scuba’s memory lives on. The Conch Shell Festival continues to grow each September, gathering people of all ages to celebrate this coastal tradition.