One of the features of Festival Del Mar, at the Easter weekend in Anguilla (March 31 and April 1), is that all the entertainers are fully local individuals and groups. This is unlike previous years when some of the persons involved in the entertainment were from outside Anguilla.
Deputy Chairman of the community event, now in its 11th year at Island Harbour Bay, Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool, listed most, if not all, of the local entertainers in an interview with The Anguillian newspaper. They are Bankie Banx, Anguilla’s number one reggae singer and musician; his son, Omari Banks who is following in his footsteps; Boss & His the Horsepower Band, seasoned entertainers across the island; Natty & the House Band, an emerging group; Shea Shea and her Band, another evolving group; Rashawn Harrigan, the reigning twice FLOW-sponsored Soca Monarch of Anguilla; the Vito Band of Island Harbour; the popular string band, Took and His Boys; the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Steel Orchestra; and the established singer and musician, Johnny Lloyd and his Band.
Mr. Vanterpool is of the view that Festival Del Mar 2018 will be a grand affair with many persons in attendance from overseas, some of whom have been making inquiries about the event.
The Deputy Chairman has expressed gratitude to the Anguilla Government for its assistance in restoring the damaged electricity and the bathroom facilities, and ANGLEC for providing extra-street lights in the area. He is also grateful to the Festival Del Mar sponsors: the Anguilla Government through the Tourist Board; the Department of Youth and Culture; FLOW Anguilla; Malliouhana-ANICO Insurance and Tropical Distributors.
The Festival Del Mar activities include a deep-sea fishing competition; the Elliott Webster Memorial B-class Boat race; a sunfish race; a model boat race; a swimming race; and traditional culinary competitions with fish and other food dishes.
Over the past several days a number of vendors have been erecting booths across the seashore to provide their goods and services. A stage for the various cultural activities and addresses will also have been completed in time for the festival.
The annual Festival Del Mar event, now in its 11th year, is expected to attract hundreds of persons from across the island in addition to the large number of visitors of whom Mr. Vanterpool spoke.
