With only a few sponsors, meagre funds, and the continuing COVID-19 restrictions and concerns, it initially appeared that there would have been an outright cancellation of the 2021 Festival Del Mar Festival at Island Harbour Bay. But, due to the tenacity of its organisers, the involvement of a number of vendors, several entertainers and, of course the desire of a growing number of patrons, the two-day event remained the main activity during the Easter weekend in Anguilla.
Traffic jams at Island Harbour, the principal fishing village of the island, were basically the order of the days of the festival. For the most part, the middle area of the beach was taken up by hastily constructed booths and seating facilities.
Circumstances did not allow the holding of many of the usual Festival Del Mar activities, but the overflowing fish, lobster, Johnny cakes and drinks booths provided the real attractions for the crowd from all walks of life. Anguillians, other residents and visitors, rubbed shoulder to shoulder at the food stalls and seating areas. The fact
that there is no community spread of the coronavirus and that many persons have so far been vaccinated, enabled persons to freely huddle and move around in large groups.
Chairman of the Festival Del Mar event, Damien Harrigan, spoke to The Anguillian newspaper on Easter Sunday afternoon, April 4, when, apart from the feasting, the main activity was a B-class boat race from outside the harbour, around Scilly Cay, to the Shoal Bay area and back.
“We are having a great time,” he commented. “We opened Festival Del Mar on Saturday, April 3 and we had a really good turnout. It was much better than we expected, given the situation of the coronavirus and the economic climate. We went into the late night when all the vendors had sold out their food – and that tells you how many people were here.
“We had live entertainment by the Veto Band, and Bankie Banx performed two songs with them. We really did not have any other activities. There was more focus on the food. But, for today, Sunday, April 4, we have our B-class boat race; all this great food and live musical entertainment as well.”
Mr. Harrigan said, “Festival Del Mar team included Othlyn Vanterpool (former Chairman); Monique Webster and Rebecca Webster. That is four of us. Our sponsors are the Department of Youth and Culture; the Anguilla Tourist Board; Flow; Delta Petroleum; Tropical Distributors ; and Mount Gay Rum.”
Speaking from a tourism standpoint, Mr. Harrigan continued: “We have a lot of visitors here who have completed their quarantine and are free to roam – and I saw a bus came up with a couple. We are trying to show them our culture which includes the tradition of seafood. It is a way of tourism for us. Sadly, we could not allow many persons in. However, we had to keep the event alive so that next year many visitors will know that Festival Del Mar is still alive.”
