"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Reynold “King Paido” Phillips wouldn’t have missed the calypso competition on Sunday night at the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival. After all, he had a title to defend. Because of the …
Continue reading “‘King Paido’ keeps crown in first VI calypso contest since 2019”
At sunrise on Friday, a dozen residents gathered on the Anegada ferry dock to set an intention for the weekend: that everyone arriving to the “drowned island” would be safe …
Following August Emancipation Festival events held for the first time in three years, Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee Chairman Dirk Walters said that the organisation is already drafting a …
During the Festival Food Fair on July 29, Olive Vanterpool was demonstrating the process of making cassava bread as live steel pan music played in the background. Her mission was …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands dishes featured at food fair”
With an official list of events circulated by government on Good Friday, the 53rd Virgin Gorda Easter Festival was held over the weekend after being canceled for the last two …
Covid-19, the August Emancipation Festival and the Olympics are all worthy of a separate commentary. Nonetheless, there is currently a confluence of these issues, so I will take the bold …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY —Covid, Festival, Olympics addressed”
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 …
The 66th August Emancipation Festival was unlike any other before it. Rather than packing into the Festival Village to dance to soca and calypso, residents logged onto the Virgin Islands …
Though the annual Emancipation Service could not be held in person due to Covid-19 precautions, viewers who tuned in to a virtual version of the event last week still got …
Once, while abroad in Canada, somebody asked Jadienne Webb where she came from. Leaning into her identity and her accent, Ms. Webb said, “I live where you vacay, you escape …
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 …
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 …
A detailed report on the government’s spending on last year’s festivals is written, but Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley told the House of …
Though the windy weather over the weekend was dangerous for small vessels at sea, it was perfect for the fourth Anegada Kite & Paddle Festival. In fact, it was the …
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 …
Continue reading “$710k festivals budget ballooned to $1.9 million in spending”
In part because of faulty recordkeeping in the past, comprehensive financial information about festivals from 2016 to the present is not currently available, according to Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries …
Continue reading “Spending from past Festivals not yet available”
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 …
Continue reading “East End festival renews focus on culture”
As the August Emancipation Festival season fast approaches, Virgin Islands residents are showing their support for nearby celebrations as well. The 65th St. John Festival last Thursday saw an influx …
This year’s 52nd Virgin Gorda Easter Festival will be scaled down again because of financial constraints and efforts to highlight local culture over international artists, officials said last week. At …
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 …
Continue reading “Photo highlights from the 2018 August Emancipation Festival”
Sherine Smith was excited as she took the 9 a.m. ferry from Road Town to see her favourite troupe, the Hugga Bunch, perform in the Adult Parade at the 70th …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands contingent takes part in St. Thomas Carnival”
