Sonia Thompson, Chairperson of the Holetown Festival Committee.
The Honourable Denis Kellman at the launch of the Holetown Festival.
The annual Holetown Festival was recently launched at the Caribbean Development Bank Wildey Location.
The evening started with a display of bajan culture as a tuk band meandered through the venue with their rhythmic beats as beautiful ladies clothed in various costumes danced behind them.
Emcee for the event Wayne Simmons, indicated that they were being proactive and not waiting until the eve of the festival to make patrons aware of its presence on the calendar. Recently elected chairperson of the committee Sonia Thompson informed attendees about the many activities involved in this year’s festival. She expressed, “This Festival continues to evolve from its genesis as a commemorative activity celebrating the first settlement of the English in Barbados to a festival that is all embracing and diverse.
She indicated, “As we move into the forty-first year of the Festival there is a lot to be proud of as we reflect on the past years. Holetown Festival is officially recognised by the government as one of the seven national festivals. Its significance as a major attraction for tourists is acknowledged by the Ministry of Tourism.”
Thompson shared the positive impacts that the festival has had on the socio-economic landscape of the island. “Each year hundreds of people find employment as service providers, entertainers designers, art enthusiasts and vendors – just to name a few. Making the early part of February a period of economic activity. “The chairperson extended thanks to the sponsors who make the event a reality. She also credited the Queen of the festival pageant with playing a pivotal role in the grooming of numerous young ladies some of whom went on to represent the island.
Thompson promised the reintroduction of things from the past and spicing up of familiar elements. The Festival will open on February 11, 2018 with the Blessing of the Festival and the opening ceremony at the Magistrates Court Car Park with a full entertainment package included. This will be followed by the Alfred Pragnell Memorial Talk at the Holetown Methodist Church. There will be a component of music almost every night with daily concerts at the Surfside Theatre.
Monday night is specifically geared towards attracting the interest of the youth. On February 13 there will be a bus tour traversing the Holetown Area, while Thursday night will consist of a Bajan extravaganza with a full floor show. One of the customary highlights will be the Chefette-sponsored Floodlit Tattoo. Another event which will be sure to attract a lot of interest will be the annual Banks/Coca Cola Street Fair and the Courtesy Garage Street Parade on March 17, 2018. The festivities culminate with the Michael Parravicino Memorial Road Walk and Festival 7K Road Run on March 18th.
Rather than the customary Speightstown starting point it has now been changed to start and end in Holetown. The climax of the festival will be the highly-anticipated Queen of the Festival Pageant at the Frederick Smith Secondary School.
(ST)