Like many residents, we felt great pride last week as Virgin Islands artists, singers, writers and other creatives waved the territory’s flag at the Caribbean Festival of the Arts in …
August 30, 2025
August 15, 2025
Festival closes with Carrot Bay culture
Hundreds of residents and visitors attended the annual Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta, a three-day celebration that closed out this year’s August Emancipation Festival season with music, food, games and community …
August 15, 2025
East End festivities level up
Tortola’s East End picked up where the main August Emancipation Festival activities in Road Town left off last week, giving residents the opportunity to celebrate the even-earlier emancipation of the …
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 …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands has much to consider in marking emancipation”
July 11, 2025
More Virgin Islands ‘icons’ honoured
Deborah Reynolds-O’Neal won a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her work in fashion. Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway was named “media presenter of the year.” Kenisha Sprauve was honoured for her children’s …
July 10, 2025
EDITORIAL: Happy Virgin Islands Day
Despite our disappointment that the government didn’t host an official Virgin Islands Day celebration this year, we were greatly encouraged by the many activities organised instead by community groups and …
June 16, 2025
Non-profit to honour creatives
An award-winning singer, a fashion designer with her own brand, and a Golden Globe-nominated actress are just a few of the creative professionals who will be honoured when the local …
June 9, 2025
Festival to focus on culture
As musicians from Elmore Stoutt High School played the territorial song and other numbers, a crowd grew at the Market Square in Road Town for the launch of the 71st …
April 28, 2025
EDITORIAL: Another Library Week with no national library
We are glad the government celebrated Library Week, and we don’t doubt that the public officers organising school visits and promoting digital services did their best. However, it is shameful …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Another Library Week with no national library”
April 25, 2025
Hats off to Easter
On Sunday at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival, the Ralph T. O’Neal Hat Parade once again brought the community together in a colourful celebration of culture and creativity. The parade …
April 25, 2025
Virgin Gorda celebrates Easter
Hundreds lined the streets of Virgin Gorda for the annual Easter Monday Parade, the main event of the sister island’s three-day Easter Festival. Beginning hours after the death of Pope …
April 24, 2025
Fulbright Scholar to speak tomorrow
An up-and-coming academic from the United States is teaching and conducting research at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College this year under the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Programme. Tomorrow, residents will get …
December 17, 2024
Food Fete to go year-round again
Continuing a new format first used this year, the annual BVI Food Fete will be held throughout 2025 with culinary events for residents and visitors alike on all four main …
December 5, 2024
Lobster, music and fun in Anegada
A record number of restaurants took part in the 12th annual Anegada Lobster Festival over the weekend, drawing praise from enthusiastic visitors despite attendance that participants said was down from …
November 24, 2024
Three islands, three days of fungi
Children played and danced in the grass while adults bobbed their heads and swayed to the music on Saturday evening as fungi bands performed on the lawn of the Cyril …
November 7, 2024
BBC historian to kick off Lit Fest today
United Kingdom author and filmmaker David Olusoga will kick off the four-day BVI Literary Arts Festival at 4 p.m. today with a lecture exploring citizenship in the United Kingdom and …
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 …
June 13, 2024
Two charged after recent burglaries
Following “several weeks of intensive investigation” into reports of burglary, theft and other offences committed at homes and businesses in the territory, detectives have arrested and charged two Tortola men, …
November 29, 2023
Cooper Island hosts Rum Fest
For more photos, visit the Beacon’s Facebook page. As the first boatload of visitors to this year’s festivities walked up to the Cooper Island Beach Club on Nov. 18, they …
November 21, 2023
EDITORIAL: Again, lit fest was lit
Kudos to the organisers of the recent BVI Literary Festival on establishing a highly successful annual event that has quickly become a not-to-miss celebration of Caribbean literature and culture. The …
November 11, 2023
Lit fest brings 40-plus writers to VI
The fast-paced schedule of the third annual BVI Literary Festival had attendees raucously laughing at humorous readings, snapping in appreciation of poetry performances, and sitting in contemplative silence as authors …
November 11, 2023
Culture month opening lauds historic sites
As evening fell on the St. Philip’s Anglican Church ruins in Kingstown, a woman wearing a stark white apron and azure dress walked along the path in front of the …
Continue reading “Culture month opening lauds historic sites”
November 6, 2023
EDITORIAL: Standing on the shoulders of giants
We applaud the House of Assembly and others responsible for recognising ten national heroes whose stories are an inspiration to current and future generations. The move was a welcome addition …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Standing on the shoulders of giants”
November 2, 2023
BVI Lit Fest launches month of cultural celebration
Prominent poets and novelists from across the Caribbean and its diaspora. Virgin Islands writers, businesspeople, filmmakers and musicians. A Nobel Prize-winning economist. All are among the dozens of presenters scheduled …
Continue reading “BVI Lit Fest launches month of cultural celebration”
November 2, 2023
Your guide to Lit Fest
Get to know the speakers who will be leading various panel discussions, workshops and special events during this year’s BVI Literary Festival. Many of the events are free to attend, …
