Each year Neil Blyden not only promoted the August Emancipation Festival on his radio station ZVCR, but he attended the August Monday Parade to provide live coverage, said his wife Janice Blyden.

Ms. Blyden was speaking during a press conference on Tuesday at which her late husband was announced as the honouree for this year’s Festival Village.

“His thing was to have everybody happy for Festival,” the widow explained.

Mr. Bylden, who died on New Year’s Day, was also credited for starting the International Music Night held each Festival.
“I remember when he said to me, ‘I’m going to create a pageant; I’m going to create an event that is going to have everybody and it’s going to have to be on the recreational ground because nowhere else is going to be big enough to hold it,’” Ms. Blyden recalled. “He said, ‘I am going to have artists from all over so that everybody can feel welcomed.’”
Ms. Blyden added that she hopes his legacy continues for a long time to come.
“I’m hoping that this Festival would be one that he would have been proud of, something that he would have had a part of,” she said.

Lineup
Organisers said they plan to meet such expectations during this year’s celebrations, which will take place from July 30 to Aug. 12.

“I’ve been receiving great feedback from the committee, and we anticipate that this year’s parade will be a grand one,” Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn said at the launch. “Several troupes have already started promoting their costumes and partial routines on social media.”

Organisers also announced a lineup of local and regional performers.

The Road Town festivities will be headlined by Jamaican reggae singer Tarrus Riley, Haitian kompa band T-Vice, and St. Thomas duo Rock City.

In East End, headliners include Dominica’s Asa Banton and Trinidadians Destra, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons.
The Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta will feature Patrice Roberts from Trinidad and Tobago, Triple Kay from Dominica, and Stylee Band from St. Thomas.

Several VI groups will join the headliners at each venue.

SEE THE JULY 6, 2017 EDITION FOR FULL COVERAGE.

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