Plans are now in hand for the second “Festival del Mar”, a community-based tourism event all about love for the sea and seafood, scheduled for April 11-12 at Island Harbour Bay over the Easter Weekend.

Promotional Poster for festival del Mar 2009

“Festival Del Mar” (Festival of the Sea) is aimed primarily at creating and increasing awareness of the importance of the fishing industry to the economic development of Anguilla. The festival will bring together the Island Harbour fishing community to showcase its fish and seafood preparations in the natural setting of the area to the delight of Anguillians and visitors. It will be a scene of local vendors featuring various food stalls along the Island Habour Bay and road side.

There will be displays of fish, lobster, crayfish, conch, tuna etc in various forms of preparation; island specialties including dumplings, fungi, fry cakes, Johnny cakes, rice and peas and other dishes. Recognition of pioneers in the fishing industry at Island Harbour, traditional music, and a host of sea sports including swimming races, boat racing and crab racing will also form part of the weekend festival.

The activities will commence on Saturday morning, April 11, with a deep sea fishing tournament followed throughout the day by a swimming relay, a sunfish exhibition, a B-class boat race from Island Harbour to Black Garden and back, a model boat race and an Optimist dinghy race.
The activities for Saturday, April 12, will include a sunfish exhibition, a triathlon involving swimming, cycling and running races, Optimist dinghy races; an Elliott Webster Memorial A-Class boat race from Sandy Ground to Island Harbour; a Culinary Competition for the best seafood soup, salad, local seafood dish, roasted seafood and grilled seafood.
Entertainment will be provided by Smokey & the Boys, the Happy Hits and DJ Wayne & Titanium Sounds. A popular activity will be conch shell blowing, a tradition of early fishermen in Anguilla.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News