The August Emancipation Festival will crank into high gear over the weekend, with activities continuing in Road Town through Monday night. Then the party moves to East End on Tuesday and to Carrot Bay next Thursday before returning to Road Town to wrap up on the night of Aug. 6. A schedule of activities is below.

FRIDAY

Jamaican dancehall artist Beenie Man returns to the VI tomorrow for the International Music Mix. The self-proclaimed “King of Dancehall” is known for the songs “Who Am I?” “Girls Dem Sugar,” “Sim Simma,” and others. Born Anthony Moses Davis, the Grammy Award winner began his career in the early 1980s.

Miguel Collins, a Jamaican better known as Sizzla Kalonji, will also take the stage. The Rastafarian, who also performed at last year’s festivities, is known for his positive reggae songs, including “Black Woman and Child,” “Give Me A Try,” and “Holding Firm.”

Also on tonight’s lineup are VI groups Showtime Band and Final Faze.

SATURDAY

Guadeloupe’s creole zouk group Kassav will headline the International Soca Night at the Rita Francis Festiville. The group was formed in 1979 and has since produced 13 albums. Trinidad and Tobago’s Destra will return to the VI yet again to perform hits including her latest, “Lucy,” as well as “Show off” and “I Dare You.” VIBE will also perform.

SUNDAY

The East End/Long Look Festival Committee will host a Beach Splash at Long Bay Beach, Beef Island, from 11 a.m. There will be live entertainment as well as deejays behind the turntable.

The BVI Heritage Month Committee will host the Emancipation Service beginning at 4 p.m. at the Sunday Morning Well. Before the ceremony, a march will begin at the parking lot in front of the former Peebles Hospital.

Lakeisha Claxton, Erika Creque, Mindy Paul and Reba Thomas will vie for the crown of Miss BVI on Sunday at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex from 8 p.m.

Venomous Poizon Band from the USVI, Latin Band and IPM will take the stage at the Rita Francis Festiville after the Miss BVI Pageant.

MONDAY

The Rise and Shine Tramp begins at Port Purcell from around 4 a.m. and ends near the Central Administration Building at around 7 a.m. There will be two live bands on the road.

The BVI Heritage Month Committee will host its annual Sunrise Service from 7 a.m. at the Queen Elizabeth II Park.

Several troupes will take part in the annual August Monday Parade, which begins at Prospect Reef in the early afternoon and ends at the Rita Francis Festiville.

Later that night, new VI soca and calypso group Relentless the Band will perform, as will Virgin Gorda’s Hardcore Band and OMG.

EAST END/LONG LOOK FESTIVAL

TUESDAY

The Charlie Turnbull Festiville opens today in East End with a ceremony at around 8 p.m. After that, the Reggae and Soca Explosion will kick off with performances by several VI entertainers, including new soca and calypso group OMG.

Later in the night, Jamaican dancehall singers I Octane, Jah Vinci and Militant will take the stage, as will St. Vincent and the Grenadines singer Jamesy P and Cool Breeze Band.

WEDNESDAY

The East End/Long Look Rise and Shine Tramp will get started at around 4 a.m. as the music winds down at the village. Venomous Poizon Band from the USVI will lead the procession.

The EE/LL Festival Parade will start in the early afternoon, proceeding from Methodist Hill to the Charlie Turnbull Festiville.

Later that night, fungi bands Razor Bladez and Stanley and 10 Sleeping Knights will take the stage. The festival comes a close with performances by Stylee Band and Showtime Band.

CARROT BAY CULTURAL FIESTA

AUGUST 4

The action moves to Carrot Bay next Thursday. The Melvin Hyman Fishermen’s Tournament will be held from early in the morning, and the award ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m.

At the village, Relentless the Band and Showtime Band will perform, as will St. Vincent and the Grenadines soca singer Fireman Hooper;St. Lucian zouk group Carimi; and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kes the Band.

AUGUST 5

The Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta Cultural Day will get going at around 3 p.m. There will be several games, including lime-and-spoon races, sack races, donkey races and more.

Tonight, Jamaican reggae singer Christopher Martin and Barbadian soca band Krosfyah will perform, as will Dominica’s WCK.

AUGUST 6
New to the Carrot Bay Cultural Fiesta this year are the Synergy Boat Races and the VI Classic Car Show from around noon.

The August Emancipation Festival officially comes to a close back in Road Town with performances by Xtreme Band as well as Trinidad and Tobago soca couple Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons.

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