FRIDAY

Food: The annual food fair kicks off at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, featuring local food and drinks, baked goods, and other treats.

Music: The main stage at the Iris Freeman Festival Village will feature music from the fungi band Lashing Dogs, the Showtime Band, and other Virgin Islands artists, along with Jamaican performers Sizzla and Jah Cure, who both play primarily reggae and reggae fusion.

SATURDAY

Music: The “International Soca Caribbean Explosion” in the festival village will feature music from local fungi band the Razor Bladez, VIBE, and “Glama Gurl,” also known as Arliene Penn, who returns to the stage years after winning the title of Calypso Queen on Virgin Gorda in 2000 and Calypso Queen on Tortola in 2003. The line-up will also feature St. Vincent soca artists Poorsa and Skinny Fabulous; Trinidad calypsonian Chalk Dust; Haitian trio CaRiMi, who describe their music as hip-hop kompa; and Mr. Chucky, of Trinidad, who was named the International Soca Monarch in 2014.

Show: The BVI Motor Sports Association will hold its 14th annual car show in Road Town adjacent to the One Stop Mall.

SUNDAY

March: An Emancipation Service will take place at the Sunday Morning Well around 4 p.m. following the Freedom March from the Central Administration Building.

Pageant: The Miss BVI Pageant will be held at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex, where five young women will vie for the title of Miss BVI 2014 starting at 8 p.m.

Music: The festival village will feature performances by the VI’s Splash Band; St. Kitts reggae and jam band Small Axe; and Dominica’s WCK (Windward Caribbean Kulture), which plays a blend of soca, bouyon, and “cadence-lypso,” a style characterised by horns, synthesizers and rhythmic guitar.

MONDAY

Tramp: The annual Rise and Shine Tramp will start at around 4 a.m. in Pasea, followed by a sunrise service at the Central Administration Building.

Parade: The August Monday Parade will start in the late morning or early afternoon, with more than 60 troupes and floats marching through Road Town.

Music: Entertainment in the village will feature Virgin Gorda’s Final Faze Band, St. Thomas’ Evolution Band, and St. John’s Cool Session Brass, which plays a mix of reggae, R&B and soca.

TUESDAY

Sports: Aquatic sports activities are scheduled to be held this morning at the Queen Elizabeth II Park. The events are to include two types of “greased pole” — vertical and horizontal — a greased pig, water sports races, and a hot- dog eating competition. Music and entertainment will be provided by the Razor Bladez, the Heritage Dancers, and the BVI Sky Dancers.

Race: The Premier’s Cup 2014 horse races will take place throughout the day at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay.

Boats: The Great Festival Sloop Shoot-Out & Heritage Regatta will take place in Road Harbour.

Music: The East End/Long Look Festival Village — named for Ifield “Spike” Lettsome — will open tonight, featuring performances by VI artists DJ Birch and Xtreme Band; St. Vincent soca ballad singer Winston Soso; the Stylee Band, a calypso, soca and reggae band from St. Croix; the “Sweet Soca Man,” Baron, of Trinidad and Tobago; and the popular Jamaican dancehall artist Mavado.

WEDNESDAY

Tramp: The EE/LL Rise and Shine Tramp will take place early this morning

Parade: The annual East End parade is scheduled to begin around 11 a.m.

Music: The EE/LL festivities will come to a close with the “Fungi Fest,” featuring music from DJ Renegade, the Razor Bladez, Leon and the Hot Shots, Showtime Band and New Vybes.

THURSDAY, Aug. 7

Fishing: Activities move to Carrot Bay today, starting with the Bernardo “Nalo” Leonard Carrot Bay Fishing Tournament based at the village’s boat ramp.

Procession: Events continue with the sunset Torch Light Procession from Little Carrot Bay in to the festival village, which is named for resident Bernardo “Nalo” Leonard.

Music: Tonight will feature VI bands The Serenaders and Showtime, along with the Dominica-based Triple Kay, which performs reggae, dancehall, and their country’s own style of music called bouyon. The night of music will also feature Trinidad and Tobago soca singer Kerwin Du Bois; St. Kitts’ Pumpa and the Unit; and the prolific calypsonian and composer Alston Becket Cyrus, who was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

FRIDAY, Aug. 8

Culture: Daytime events scheduled in Carrot Bay include donkey races, tug-of-war, sack races, three-legged races, egg-and-spoon races, and the greased pig.

Music: Entertainment for the night will feature local acts Prime Time, the Xtreme band, and VIBE, along with Trinidadian soca singers Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, and Farmer Nappy.

SATURDAY, Aug. 9

Last Lap: The Diamond Jubilee finale will take place back at the Iris Freeman Festiville Village in Road Town, with Iwer George, a soca artist from Trinidad; A-Team Band, also from Trinidad; and Tessane Chin, a Jamaican recording artist who fuses reggae, soul, rock and pop music. Ms. Chin garnered international fame recently with her win of NBC’s television contest, “The Voice.” The Last Lap celebration will include a fireworks display before festival comes to a close.

 

{fcomment}