Each year, the territory’s August Emancipation Festival commemorates Aug. 1, 1834 — the day the British Parliament’s Slavery Abolition Act, 1833, came into force. But the actual history of emancipation …
August 14, 2025
August 2, 2025
Festival set to fire up after slow burn, vendors say
Businesses hoping to cash in at the August Emancipation Festival celebrations reported a slower start than last year, but they said they expect a surge in interest to power the …
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August 1, 2025
EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands has much to consider in marking emancipation
The 71st August Emancipation Festival is well under way, and we are excited to take part in the ongoing celebrations. But amid the revelry, we hope everyone will remember the …
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July 31, 2025
Emancipation Festival 2025: What’s happened and what’s to come
As residents passed out torches on Friday evening in the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, Neil Frett sported an ear-to-ear grin. “Well, just waiting now to find out what …
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August 15, 2024
A ‘cultural vibe’ in Carrot Bay
Though Phillip Mostert has lived in the Virgin Islands for nine years, Friday was his first time attending the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta. But the South African did not come …
August 1, 2024
EDITORIAL: 70th Festival is a time to celebrate and reflect
During this August Emancipation Festival, there is much to celebrate. Most importantly, of course, today marks 190 years since emancipation. This year also commemorates 70 years of Festival, an annual …
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May 3, 2024
August Festival to mark 70 this year
There will be much to celebrate during this year’s August Emancipation Festival. “We’re celebrating not just the 70th anniversary of Festival, but we’re celebrating 190 years of emancipation, 190 years …
March 29, 2024
$670k budgeted for music festival
Government has allocated $670,000 for the Virgin Islands Music Festival in May but hopes to earn it all back through ticket sales, sponsorships and other revenue streams, Premier Dr. Natalio …
August 31, 2023
Premier commends festival committee
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley declared this year’s August Emancipation Festival to be “one of the best managed festivals in my time” during a press conference on Aug. 24 with …
August 23, 2023
Emancipation Festival goes big
The Virgin Islands went big this year for the 69th August Emancipation Festival, bringing both international headliners and VI artists to the Irene Penn-O’Neal Festival Village almost every night since …
August 23, 2023
EE celebration features local heroes
The big stage in East End had its heyday during past August Emancipation Festival seasons, but organisers are moving away from hosting major acts there. Instead, they put more focus …
August 23, 2023
Carrot Bay celebrates culture
Throughout the challenges of planning the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta during the pandemic, the event remained relatively well supported. This year, it expanded into a three-day bash featuring a variety …
August 23, 2023
Emancipation services focus on history
Residents had the opportunity to attend a variety of emancipation services on Aug. 6, including one at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town, one at The Stickett in East …
August 5, 2023
EDITORIAL: Much to celebrate, much to remember
In the coming days, we hope that everyone will partake in a post-pandemic August Emancipation Festival that promises to be one for the record books. But amid the revelry, the …
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August 2, 2023
69th Festival starts with stories, song
The 69th August Emancipation Festival kicked off on the evening of July 31 with a steel pan rendition of Bob Marley’s “One Love” and tales about the storied history of …
June 15, 2023
Miss BVI candidates revealed
The August Emancipation Festival will start next month, and preparatory activities are getting under way. On June 10, organisers introduced the four contestants for the 2023 Miss BVI Pageant during …
June 12, 2023
‘Non-stop concert’ to celebrate direct flights
The Virgin Islands community has been anticipating the commencement of direct flights between Miami and the territory all year, and leaders are planning a big bash to celebrate the first …
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August 7, 2022
Community shows up big for 2022 Festival
Dancing in the streets by the hundreds for the first time in years, the Virgin Islands community showed up in force to celebrate being outside together for the 68th annual …
July 28, 2022
VI celebrates emancipation
The August Emancipation Festival is officially under way. With the slicing of a pink ribbon strung across the stage, the Bernard “Yampie” Nibbs Festival Village officially opened on July 27. …
July 19, 2022
Smaller festival brings back classic events
Following two pandemic-era August Emancipation Festivals held largely online, in-person events are returning this year even though a limited budget means the celebration won’t be as extensive as before Covid-19, …
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July 30, 2021
August Festival events postponed
Last year’s August Emancipation Festival was marked with a mashup of virtual and in-person events featuring live-streamed musical showcases and poetry competitions as well as small traditional markets and food …
August 8, 2020
Soca and calypso showcases go virtual
Thousands tuned into the virtual soca and calypso showcases this week in the comfort and safety of their own homes, jamming to sounds that represent the Virgin Islands. Both virtual …
August 2, 2020
EDITORIAL: Celebrate emancipation, but please do it safely
Though the Covid-19 pandemic means that this year’s August Emancipation Festival has been scaled back dramatically, the observance is every bit as important as usual, and we hope residents will …
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July 31, 2020
Festival report sheds light on last year
After the government failed to provide legally mandated annual reports on Festival spending for three years, Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently broke …
July 24, 2020
Scaled-back August Festival is on
Though the celebrations will look notably different from typical years, the August Emancipation Festival will still happen in the coming weeks despite the complications of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to …
