BRADES, Montserrat (October 24, 2012) – The countdown to Montserrat’s 50th annual festival goes into overdrive on Friday, October 26th, FIFTY days before celebrations kick off on Saturday, December 15th. An exciting range of events and shows are planned to mark this historical and festive time in Montserrat’s history.
Cornerstone events organised by the festival committee include: Night of Pan featuring both junior and senior orchestras from across the island, the Festival Queen Pageant which will pay tribute to the 5 decades of pageantry, the Calypso Monarch Competition on December 30, a lively Festival Day Show and the colourful Street Parade with more than 20 different mas bands.
A number of private shows will also add to the excitement of the festival including the: Soca Monarch Competition, 2nd Annual Regional Female Calypso Competition, and Soca Frenzy Show which will feature 10 different soca artistes from across the Caribbean region. In total there are 70 plus events on the festival calendar with daytime activities for children and families and numerous shows for those looking to revel into the night!
Montserrat nationals living abroad as well as other festival goers are expected to double if not triple the island’s 5,000 population and the festival committee along with Montserrat Tourism Board is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to everyone taking part in the 50th Festival celebrations.
Chairman of the festival committee Johnny Wyke says: “There is no better way for Montserratians and friends of Montserrat to celebrate Montserrat’s 50th annual festival than to visit the island known to many as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. Making the journey will allow individuals to reconnect with family and friends as well as experience again the culture and history of the island as it works to rebuild from the volcanic eruption that happened some 17 years ago.”
As part of celebration, The Montserrat Tourist Board will raffle off a two-bedroom house with oceanic view located in the Lookout Village of Montserrat. Valued at 160,000 Eastern Caribbean Dollars, the individual or organisation who wins the raffle will become the owner of the house, mortgage free.
For more information on the festival events and house raffle go to: http://montserratfestival.com. For more information on Montserrat, go to: http://www.visitmontserrat.com.
