There seems to be an increasing number of festivals in Anguilla. This can be a good thing if developed wisely. For a long time, the only festival we had was the Anguilla Summer Festival (previously called carnival). This was the one opportunity provided, each year, to showcase our culture and talent. Later on, the Jazz Festival was created but wasn’t sustained probably due to the limited interest of locals. However, there now seems to be a plethora of festivals catering to all tastes.
Festival Del Mar, which celebrates all things of the “sea”, brings Island Harbour to life every Easter weekend. Large crowds gather to participate in the marine activities as well as eat their bellies full of a wide range of seafood cooked in a variety of ways. Delicious food, good music and the picturesque Island Harbour Bay, make a perfect combination for this popular festival.
The Anguilla Lit Fest caters to the interests of avid readers, poets, writers and aspiring writers. Bringing renowned authors to Anguilla and having them share the stage with local talent seem to be a winning strategy as the festival appears to be growing in popularity and impact. The use of authors to deliver workshops to children and others is a good way of ensuring continued interests in the literary arts among the populace.
The Welches Village Fest has grown by leaps and bounds. From a small festival attended by persons mainly from Welches and surrounding areas, it now attracts huge crowds from across the island. The focus is on all things traditional – food, cooking methods, music and other entertainment, art, household utensils etc. – and people (young and old) love it! It is an excellent way of preserving our culture, thereby ensuring that all generations have an appreciation for the way things were done.
The Valley Street Festival, organized by the Anguilla Tourist Board, has gained some traction over the years. It is held several times a year and provides an opportunity for local artisans to showcase and sell their craft. Attracting both locals and visitors, the festival is all about the creativity of Anguillians. Displays include locally made jewelry, cosmetics, clothing, t-shirt designs, carvings from wood and shells. Books written by local authors, culinary delights from various groups, and local music, can also be found at the festival.
Other mini festivals have also been emerging on the scene. These include the Village ‘Ting in East End. It combines food, with live entertainment (both local and from overseas), a domino competition, and a cycle race in honour of one of the young men in the community who is a victim of gun violence. This festival has a family vibe with activities catering to a range of ages. The West Fest, held in West End, is another emerging festival which starts with a street jam that attracts large crowds of young people dancing or, as we would say “jamming”, behind their favourite bands. Food and drinks are sold to the happy and exhausted revelers and the day is just one big lime culminating with boat races at Meads Bay. Also emerging, are the South Valley Street Fair which has a focus on local food and traditional drinks as well as art and crafts; and the South Hill Village Festival which has a community vibe, with food, social activities and entertainment for all ages.
While the festivals are a welcome addition to the entertainment scene, we must decide what is our objective or focus where festival development is concerned. It may be that we want some festivals to remain as community-based activities which encourage social cohesion. Some may be for the purpose of cultural preservation and transmission where revenue generation is not the priority. However, there may be others (including those with a cultural focus) that have the potential to contribute to economic growth, and we will need to be more strategic regarding how these festivals are developed, executed and marketed.
It is my view that it the latter type of festival, and those like the Anguilla Summer Festival, that should be overseen and managed by a Festival Foundation as Government sought to establish several years ago. There is great economic potential in festivals, but they must be managed prudently and collaboratively so that all sectors of the economy benefit from their existence. Without a proper overarching structure in place, to support and guide festival development, we risk not fully reaping the potential benefits and doing a lot but accomplishing little.
