During early August, Anguilla was abuzz with festival activity as the annual Summer Festival dominated the emancipation week, from August 1st to August 9th.
As customary, in the spirit of revelry and celebration, three public holidays were celebrated during the week so folks could participate in Anguilla’s official 52nd Summer Festival. Following is a synopsis of select outstanding activities that highlighted the week:
J’ouvert Morning and Beach Party
During the early morning hours of Monday, August 3rd, three trailer trucks bearing mega loads of bands with massive speakers got ready to hit the road with the latest sounds in carnival music.
It was J’ouvert Morning 2026. The trucks which were stationed near The Trough in The Valley, started their slow roll at about 5:00. They were closely followed by multitudes of jolly dancers and excited supporters, many of whom were adorned in their own festival garb, while others reveled in attire (some would label as skimpy).
They engaged in the long trek from the Valley all the way down to Sandy Ground for the annual August Monday all-day beach party fete.
Carnival music filled the air all day in Sandy Ground. Visiting boats from St. Martin were among those that were moored along the beach.
But the highlight of that day featured Anguilla’s national sport – boat racing and the annual Sir Emile Gumbs Boat Race featuring A-Class and B-Class boats.
The Beach Party carried on unhindered until midnight.
Talented Teens Competition
The evening of Tuesday, August 4th saw rivalry on stage at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Center, as four teenaged young ladies vied for the coveted Talented Teen Crown, under the theme “The Power of Becoming”.
Contestant #1, Ms . Denayja Cognette, a second-time participant, was crowned as the winner. She won Best Interview and was selected as Miss Photogenic. Among other prizes, Ms. Cognette won a cash prize of EC$5,000.
First Runner up was Contestant #3, Ms. Krystal Laurent. She won Best Aspirational Speech and Best Performing Talent. Ms. Laurent received a cash prize of EC$3,000 among other prizes.
Contestant #2, Ms. Kristy Onkar captured the title of Second Runner-up, winning Best Evening Wear. She was also named Miss Congeniality. Among other gifts, Kristy received a cash prize of EC$1,000.
Ms. Ronnisha Cambridge, Contestant #4, though not placing in the top three, received a cash prize of EC$1,000 among other gifts.
Miss Anguilla Pageant
Under the theme “Once Upon a Queen”, Wednesday night, August 5th, featured the staging of the Miss Anguilla Pageant Part 2, dubbed “The Coronation”, when five gorgeous young ladies demonstrated their pageantry skills.
Part 1, called “The Wakening”, had been staged during the prior week, where the competitors exhibited their talents during Introductory Speech, Swimwear Display and Ambassadorial Display. But Wednesday was an evening of elegance, grace and talent as each contestant put forth their best performance.
Emerging as Queen of the 2026 Pageant was Contestant #1, Ms. Akéma Carty. She also won Best Interview and Best Evening Wear.
Among other prizes, Ms. Carty received a quarter acre of land sponsored by National Commercial Bank of Anguilla; six pallets of blocks, sponsored by Anguilla Masonry Products; and a cash prize of EC$10,000 sponsored by the Government of Anguilla.
First Runner-up was Kishante Connor-Carty. She won Best Ambassadorial Wear and Best Swim Suit Wear, while being awarded Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Among other prizes Ms. Connor-Carty received a cash prize of EC$7,000, sponsored by the Government of Anguilla.
Ms. Amelia Olivaccé, Contestant #3, placed Second Runner-up. She won Best Speech, and among other gifts received a cash prize of EC$5,000, sponsored by the Government of Anguilla.
Contestant #2, Sharianne Francis, won Best Talent. Both she and Contestant #4, Ashelly Derich, received gifts including a spa treatment, a Samsung tablet, EC$500, a sixty minute massage, a facial treatment and a gift bag.
Senior Calypso Monarch Show
This ANGLEC sponsored Brother Lee Calypso Show, took place on the evening of Thursday, August 7th with nine contenders vying for the 2026 Calypso Crown. It was dubbed the Brother Lee Calypso Show for this year in honor of the renowned Leroy “Brother Lee” Richardson, who recently passed away, and who had contributed much to the calypso art form.
Only the first four positions in the contest were officially recognized. Winning the crown was the defending Champion Queen Roxxy – a six-time Monarch winner. She was followed by Singing Vero in the First Runner-up position, the Mighty Springer as Second Runner-up and Queen B as Third Runner-up.
A special presentation went to the calypsonian who released the first calypso for the year – Mr. Decent. In addition, the Most Humorous Calypso was awarded to The Hitman.
Leeward Islands Calypso Contest
Another notable feature of the Summer Festival was the popular Leeward Islands Calypso Contest which was staged on the night of Saturday August 8th. Calypsonians from the neighbouring islands of Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Martin, St. Thomas and Tortola competed in a powerful session of Caribbean Kaiso at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Center, which began at 8:05 pm and ended in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In a thrilling clash of calypso rivalry, De Bear of Montserrat was crowned the Champion of the competition. He was followed by Anguilla’s local Monarch Queen Roxxy, with King Destroyer of Antigua and Barbuda, Kairo of Nevis, Yard Fowl of St. Martin, Calypsonian Officer of Tortola, Ritchie Bunton of St. Thomas, and Drewzy of St. Kitts all trailing in that order.
This was the 29th staging of the Leeward Islands Calypso Monarch Competition. It was launched in 1997, with Antigua’s King Zachari winning the inaugural crown.
Other Activities
Other Summer Festival Activities included the Parade of Troupes which to place on Friday afternoon, August 7th, and Poker Run, a round-the-island poker fun party on the sea which happened on Saturday, August 8th. The Summer Festival culminated with the Champion of Champions Boat Race, which took place on Sunday, August 9th.
By: James R. Harrigan
