August 5, 2023- The Parade Sub-committee of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee has registered 1,000 revellers spread across 25 entries for the August Monday Parade. The parade which will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, 7th August will see dazzling entries ranging from the troupes, floats, floupes, sporting cars and individual entries.
The thousand-reveller parade will assemble at Road Reef and will process along Waterfront Drive, making its way to the Irene Penn-O’Neal Festiville to complete the one-and-a-half-mile long parade route. The colourful parade made up of individual entries, troupes and floats will be officially judged at the intersection of Waterfront Drive and Administration Drive. Judges will also note the use of songs entered for the Road March title. Entries were not judged in 2022. Troupes are also required to perform at the Sir Olva Geroge’s Plaza and parallel to Clover’s to qualify for up to $5,000 in cash prizes in various categories. Troupes are also expected to perform on the Festiville’s stage for audiences gathered in the village.
The parade will be led by grand marshal, Reverend Yvonne Nibbs-Flores who will be honoured with the ride for her over 50 years of involvement of in Virgin Islands Festival. Mrs. Flores will ride ahead of the Village Honouree, Mrs. Irene Penn-O’Neal, who was crowned the first Miss British Virgin Islands in 1975 and has served as a Festival Committee member for many years. The newly crowned Miss British Virgin Islands will make her first official appearance while, traditional mocko jumbies, majorettes and choreographed and free-style-dancing Festival troupes will set the road ablaze with beautiful routines. Large festival troupes like ExtraVIganza will perform to the rhythmic music of BugZbugs, Blind Earz, Big Shaw and Karnage, and Treasures of the BVI will be led by popular band, VIBE, and energetic personality Pumpa. Over 300 members each will dance along the route in spectacular costumes as part of the largest troupes. The two largest entries will close the parade.
Other exciting entries include sport cars, Rotary International’s interactive float, a special entry by Festival sponsor, CCT, and a 50-feet-long whale presented by Beyond the Reef.
Attendees are reminded to maintain a safe distance from the moving trucks and vehicles who have entered the parade and to remain behind the barricades erected for safety and to allow the parade to flow connectedly.
The August Monday Parade is expected to end by 6PM allowing attendees to enjoy food, rides, and entertainment at the Festival Village.