Organisers pleased with response to week-long Holetown Festival

Hundreds of locals and tourists took part in the Holetown Festival which ended with a Street Parade on Saturday afternoon.

The annual street festival which is in its 42nd year, was a delight for families and visitors as they enjoyed the music, dance and cultural vibrancy that Barbados has to offer.

The parade which was lead by 2018 Holetown Queen of the Festival Sheryl Forde, included performances from Dancin Africa, Bajan In Movement, Haynesville Youth Group, Dynasty Cheer Academy and Barrack Stilt Walkers.

Students from St Elizabeth’s Primary, Wesley Hall Infants, St Silas Primary and St Albans also made tributes to the Folkstone Marine Park in their costumes.

As they lined the street, watchers were engaged by the sights and the sounds especially the vintage car showcase which has become a staple of the festival.

Barbadian cultural advocates Jennifer Sealy and Peter Skeete were awarded for their contributions to the island’s cultural landscape. Sealy, who is the director of the celebrated group Dancin Africa, was recognized for her sterling contributions to the Holetown Festival.

Meanwhile, Skeete who is the head of the Haynesville Youth Club was acknowledged for promoting community activities and youth involvement.

Entertainment coordinator Petra Maynard told Barbados TODAY that the organisers were pleased with the good response to the week-long festival which is undergoing rebranding.

Maynard said the festival has experienced challenges with sponsorship due to the country’s financial woes but thanks to the tangible and intangible contributions of private citizens and corporate Barbados they remained in existence.

“There are always challenges with sponsorship but we have to recognize those who kept with us. We are in a recession it is nothing no one can avoid, it is all around us and we have to accept but life goes on and we have to put on the show we have to keep the festival going,” she said while adding “we have some people who have continued to work with us”.

Maynard also disclosed that organisers omitted the Queen of the Festival pageant this year to rebrand.

“It has been 41 years for the queen show and you don’t want it to be monotonous . . . we have to find the right area to go. It has been a bit difficult getting girls due to the fact that there are a lot of pageants going on. . . . We decided to come bigger and better for 2020,” Maynard added. (KK)