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 …
August 7, 2022
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 …
October 28, 2019
$710k festivals budget ballooned to $1.9 million in spending
The Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee started out the year with a budget of $710,000, which later was upped to $1.3 million before expenditures ultimately topped $1.9 million, according …
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August 15, 2019
East End festival renews focus on culture
When the sun came up on Aug. 7 and hundreds of people were dancing their way through East End, Jessika Robinson knew she had to be in the thick of …
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August 15, 2019
65th Festival dubbed a success
The colourful feathers Kay Williams was wearing attracted lots of attention during the August Monday Parade, and for good reason. Ms. Williams was the Queen of the Band for the …
August 10, 2019
EDITORIAL: In Facebook age, emancipation is increasingly on VI’s radar
For decades, we have encouraged residents during this season to remember the real reason for the August Emancipation Festival. As we do the same this year, we are pleased to …
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July 5, 2019
65th August Emancipation Festival three weeks away
The Virgin Islands is gearing up for the 65th August Emancipation Festival with performances, parades, pageants and other events scheduled to last nearly a month across the territory. But VI …
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August 15, 2018
Photo highlights from the 2018 August Emancipation Festival
The 2018 August Emancipation Festival may be over now, but below are some of the Beacon‘s best photos from the festivities to help you relive it. Although this year’s Festival …
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August 13, 2018
Four charged with firearm offences over Festival
Over the August Emancipation Festival, police made several “significant” arrests for firearm-related offences, according to a police press release issued on Friday. Alanah Chalwell, of East End, and Nyall Giovanni …
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August 9, 2018
EDITORIAL: Post-Irma, scaled-back Festival with culture focus is a good plan
In the post-Hurricane Irma landscape, we welcome government’s plan to scale back the August Emancipation Festival while ramping up its emphasis on culture and history. As the celebrations get under …
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July 20, 2018
August Emancipation Festival 2018 to be shorter and cheaper
The show must go on at August Emancipation Festival despite a slashed budget and scaled-back events, according to Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn. Speaking Monday at a press briefing …
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May 6, 2018
New committee takes charge of scaled-down Festival
A scaled-down, budget-friendly August Emancipation Festival will be the goal for the new Festivals and Fairs Committee Executive Board, whose appointment was announced April 25. Returning Chairman Trefor Grant will …
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