Anguilla Summer Festival

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What is the Anguilla Summer Festival?

The Anguilla Summer Festival is an annual celebration withcarnival style that celebrates the emancipation of the Caribbean. The event is a grand celebration that reflects thetraditional art forms and fuses them with the extravagant and colorful thematics of carnivals. The festival features diversecultural manifestations that are demonstrated through good food, music, boat races, parades and parades.

The Anguilla Summer Festivals are a typical Caribbean celebration that has been celebrated on the island for decades. The festival originated from former fairs and traditional festivals that were held on the first Monday of August, which is when the emancipation of the region is celebrated. During the entire celebration there is a great festive atmosphere, music everywhere, colorful and beautifully decorated costumes. The event is acolorful expression of the island’s culture that is fervently carried out through all the activities during the two weeks of festivities. Everyone who inhabits the island congregates to dance in the streets until dawn.

 

We invite you to attend this incredible commemorative event and party your heart out on one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

 

 

When is the Anguilla Summer Festival

The Anguilla Summer Festival always has a more or less fixed date, since the festival is related to the commemoration of the emancipation celebration. The Anguilla Summer Festival will be held approximately from August 2 to 8.

 

History of the Anguilla Summer Festivals

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Carnival festivities are held on almost all of the Caribbean islands; however, each possesses different celebratory elements due to the historical and geographical nature of each. These celebrations have the common factor of traditional European festivities and identity and cultural traditions of the African slaves who were forced to work in the various islands located in the Caribbean.

The carnival celebration dates were moved from early spring to late summer to commemorate the emancipation of the slaves from the British Empire in 1834. During these carnival celebrations, the cultural and identity aspects of each island are also commemorated, with Anguilla‘s dependence on the sea being that of Anguilla. The sea is asymbol of the struggle for basic survival among Anguillans, deeply rooted in theiridentity as islanders.

Anguilla is a particular island that differs from the rest of the Caribbean. Due to the island’s geographic conditions, its soil type and drought, the island’s agriculture is extremely limited compared to its sister islands. It is for this reason that the people of Anguilla were forced to depend on the sea for their survival. Due to the harsh economic conditions to which the people were subjected by not having activity in the area of agriculture, many people were forced to migrate to neighboring countries, which resulted at the same time in an incredible ability for racing and boat building.

The building of boats and the transport of goods became the island’s fortes, so this activity was highly contested and taken seriously. The boats mainly transported merchandise produced from neighboring islands. Before long, each of the boats had particular distinctiveness and even stories of other boats.

The Anguilla Summer Festival officially began in 1940 and emerged as a sporting celebration. This sport has merged with the cultural aspects of the carnival, which is now known as the Summer Festival. Unlike most of theCaribbean islands where cricket is the national sport, boating has become the national pastime favorite for Anguillans.

Although theAnguilla Summer Festival is a celebration where aspects of the carnival festivities predominate, the identity of Anguillans is reflected through boat racing andboat building, activities that have strongly permeated the identity of the islanders.

 

Where is the Anguilla Summer Festival

The Summer Festival is held in The Valley, the capital of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory located in the Caribbean..

El Valle is a city located right in the center of the island and has about 3,000 inhabitants.

 

 

How the Anguilla Summer Festival is celebrated

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During the weeks of celebration of the festival, various activities take place from start to finish, occupying the various aspects of a traditional carnival celebration. The Anguilla Summer Festival is a celebration that occupies diverse events such as spectacular musicals, children’s parade, J’ouvert, beauty and Carnival Queen contests, swimsuit contest and many other activities you won’t want to miss.

Among the celebrations that stand out the most in the festivities you can name the following:

 

Boat Race

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During theAnguilla Summer Festival, sailing is the predominant event in the festivities. The organization of the carnivals has two of the quietest beaches on the island to participate in the boat races: Sandy Ground and Meads Bay..

The clear water and white sand provide the perfect backdrop for racing, as well as giving all spectators an incredible view of the sea and boats. The atmosphere is also ideal for relaxing, having a picnic or hanging out with friends, as the carnival provides live music and several food options..

Races are held in 3 categories: A, B and C, with A being the most popular with larger boats with a crew of up to 14 people.

 

Eyes Wide Shut

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This is a leisurely day for picnics and family reunions. In addition, various regattas, especially in categories A and B, are also held during the day. The event is held at the Sandy Ground beach. The event starts at 2 pm and runs until the evening.

J’ouvert

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It is one of the first events of the carnivals. The J’ouvert is one of the oldest traditions of the Caribbean carnival. The event consists of an entertaining parade at 4:30 in the morning where hundreds of people participate in the company of musical bands. Generally, the event features talc, water or paint wars and is an event to celebrate in style and without any harm. Some people choose to go with elaborate costumes, while others wear chains and horns, representing the era of slavery..

The J’ouvert is more than a celebration for the Caribbean community, since the celebration began to take place after the abolition of slavery, so it has very important identity elements. The J’ouvert represents the great freedom obtained by the slaves and, in addition, there are also satirized displays and mockery of the colonists, who oppressed the population to perform unpaid forced labor under inhumane conditions.

 

Soca Monarch

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This is one of the most important events of the Caribbean carnivals. It is a competition that incorporates variousartists and calypso bands and includes both adult and children categories. The competition includes especially instruments such as percussion and metal drums, although the use of guitar and saxophone is also employed.

The contest is of great importance for the identity of the islanders and great national and international figures participate.

 

Food Fair

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Also known as street fair or Street fair. This is an event where you can access local food and drink. The event is also accompanied by impeccable music, as well as a festive and friendly atmosphere.

 

Grand Parade of Troupes

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This is the last Friday of the Anguilla Summer Festival. Hundreds of people participate in the event to commemorate the identity and traditions of the islanders. The streets are filled with participants who wear large and colorful costumes. These costumes enjoy a wonderful elaboration, covered with feathers and glitter that stand out due to their enormous amount of brilliant and bright colors.

The Anguilla Tourist Board has created for the event some themed costume designs for the event. The costumes have elements that make reflect the different cultural manifestations and unique characteristics of Anguillians such as the flora, the fauna and their warm and cheerful personality.

 

Tips for going to the Anguilla Summer Festivals

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If you wish to attend the Anguilla Summer Festival, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making an itinerary of activities and booking your preferred accommodations in advance. Also, remember to bring cool and comfortable clothes so you can fully enjoy your carnival once you are on the island.

During the festival, the temperature on the island averages 29 degrees Celsius, so we recommend that you stay hydrated and apply sunscreen as often as your skin needs it. Also, it’s a good idea to stay in the shade whenever possible.

 

Events at the Anguilla Summer Festival

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The Anguilla Summer Festival features a good number of events happening from start to finish. During the days of celebration, Anguilla comes alive with days of fun, food and boat races. In addition, it features musical performances, cultural and children’s parades, contests and has several recreational areas.

The Anguilla Carnival features the following events:

 

J’ouvert

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Place: Sandy Ground Beach.

Time: 4:30 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon.

 

Eyes Wide Shut

Venue: Sandy Ground Beach.

Time: 2:00 p.m. onwards.

 

Grand Parade of Troupes

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Place: Streets of El Valle.

Time: From 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

 

Soca Monarch

Place: Landsome Bowl Cultural Center.

Time: 7:30 p.m. onwards.

 

Street Fair

Place: Landsome Bowl Cultural Center.

Time: From 10:30 p.m. onwards.

 

Royal Court Show

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Venue: Landsome Bowl Cultural Center.

 

Children’s Parade and Fair

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Place: Landsome Bowl Cultural Center.

Time: From 1 p.m. onwards.

 

Regattas

Location: Sandy Ground Beach to Blowing Point.

They occur daily, with the final competition being the last day of the festivities.

 

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Anguilla Summer Festival Parades

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The Grand Parade is known as the Grand Parade of Troupes. The event features the participation of hundreds of people decked out in Bandas Mas style costumes. The people feature outfits of various colors, covered with rhinestones and feathers. The whole event takes place in a festive and joyful atmosphere with the collaboration of the bandas and large trucks with speakers that reproduce sounds and characteristic rhythms of the Caribbean..

The parade also features some carriages, the first being exclusively dedicated to all the candidates for Carnival Queen. Some cultural groups and private and public institutions are also part of the whole event with big informative posters.

During the event there is alsoplaying with paint and water, while the people dance and party in the middle of the street.

 

Parade route

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The parade takes place on the main thoroughfares of the island’s capital, El Valle, known in English as The Valley.

 

 

What to eat at the Anguilla Summer Festival

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Anguilla has a variety of dishes that are similar to the other Caribbean islands; however, due to the vast difference in soil and geographical conditions, Anguilla has some dishes that differ from the rest of the Caribbean produce. It is possible that very few people do not know all that the diverse gastronomy that the island has to offer, but this does not mean that it is not as good as the rest of the characteristic Caribbean dishes.

One of the sweets you can try during your stay on the island are the tamarind balls. This sweet is made with tamarind pulp and sugar. The ingredients are mixed until a uniform dough is formed, then small balls are made and covered with plenty of sugar. The final product is small balls of a bite with an intense tamarind flavor.

Another of the island’s traditional dishes is Rice with Pigeon Peas or rice with Pigeon Peas or frijol de palo. The dish is quite simple, but delicious and consists of marinated rice with some vegetables to which this type of tiny bean is added. In addition, in some regions coconut cream is added.

In addition, the island offers a good number of places you can visit during your vacation to broaden your culinary experience a little more. Some of the most famous places on the island are: Sharky’s Restaurant, SandBar, Blanchards Restaurant, Jacala Beach Restaurant, Veya Restaurant, Straw Hat Restaurant, Sunset Café and SandBar.

 

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What to see and do inside the Anguilla Summer Festival

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The Anguilla Summer Festival is a great celebration with varied activities for all audiences. Once you find yourself at the carnival, you can attend the various qualifying regattas held at Sandy Ground Beach. In addition, you can attend the Soca competitions and musical performances held at different points around the island. If you prefer a quieter celebration, the island also offers recreational areas where you can hang out or have a meal with friends.

Don’t forget toattend the Grand Parade of Troupes and the J’ouvert, two of the most attended events after the boat race. The Grand Parade is a real spectacle with hundreds of colorful costumes and a pleasant musical atmosphere. At J’ouvert it’s very early in the morning, so you have to sleep early the day before and get up with energy to party with paint, water and dance to the rhythm of Caribbean music.

 

What to see and do outside of the Anguilla Summer Festivals

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Due to the administrative relocation of the island and the geological conditions of the island, there are very few colony structures on the island, so most of the tourist attractions in Anguilla are basically beach paradises. Here are some of the tourist destinations you can visit during Carnival:

 

Rendezvous Bay Beach

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It is a bay with calm waters and clean sand. Although the bay has some wind, it extends for several meters, creating the perfect setting for walking and watching the sunset. In addition, there are some stores selling delicious food and drinks.

 

Sandy Island

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It is a small island paradise that has a common restaurant. The waters are of an imposing turquoise color, they are calm and the sand is white and clean. To get there, you can take a catamaran that costs about $10 for a round trip. Catamarans leave every half hour until about 4 pm.

 

Little Bay

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It is considered one of the best beaches on the island. To get there you can take a catamaran that will charge about 15 U.S. dollars round trip. Its waters are turquoise and it has very little area. The water is so clear and clean that you can see hundreds of fish swimming under your feet.

 

Weather at the Anguilla Summer Festival

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The island’s weather during the Anguilla Summer Festival is hot, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 30 degrees Celsius. Be sure to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen whenever you need it and stay in the shade if possible.

 

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How to get to the Anguilla Summer Festivals

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The island’s airport is the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, which receives some flights from the Caribbean and Europe. Once there, you can make use of the various means of transportation to get to El Valle..

Despite having an airport, the easiest way to access the island is by sea and you can do so through the other islands of the Caribbean to the main port of Anguilas..

 

How to get there by Cruise

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Cruises or boats depart mainly from French St Martin. From there, you can take a ferry that will cost approximately US$15 to US$30, depending on the type of transportation you prefer. The service starts running at 7 a.m. and a new boat departs every 45 minutes.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take a car along Mahogany Tree Street to the city center.

If you take a cab, the taxi fare ranges from US$40 to US$55.

Move around the island

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On the island there are several spots where you can rent both bikes and cars, but keep in mind that you drive on the left and not on the right as in most countries. In addition, some cabs run tours around the island that you can purchase if you are interested in seeing all that Anguilla has to offer.