PHOTOS: Heritage Parade and Love Fest
Residents and officials gathered in the East End/Long Look community on Tuesday for a Heritage Parade held as part of the commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of Freedom at Nottingham Estate in Long Look.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Sustainable Development, Tuesday’s parade offered a vibrant display of Virgin Islands heritage and culture.
The day’s celebrations culminated with the Long Look Love Fest at the Stick It Grounds. The Heritage Parade and Love Fest form part of a week of activities that began with an opening ceremony on Sunday.
The commemorative events are being held from June 28 to July 3, 2026, under the theme: “Celebrating Our Heritage, Embracing Freedom: 1776–2026.”
Next on the schedule is a commemorative lecture series on Thursday at 7 pm at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.
In the meantime, here are scenes from Tuesday’s Heritage Parade and Long Look Love Fest captured by BVI News photographer Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson.
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This was a disaster! Once again they got it all wrong. I really would like to know the thought process of the organizers and how they thought this event represented freedom ??!!
It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and point out everything that went wrong. But instead of only talking about the disaster, what did you do to help make the event better? Did you volunteer your time, share ideas with the organizers beforehand or offer to be part of the team? If you have suggestions for how future events can be more successful, can you share? Those are always valuable. It’s one thing to criticize from the outside but it’s another to step up and be part of the solution.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. No need to get your pantie* in a twist .For me the performances at the end of the night were great minus Craig and his wife( no offense I love them but they are not ancestral or descendants of long look people)! I just thought the event would have been more focused on the old time days. That was my expectation but now I realize it was literally what they advertised, a celebration and not a reenactment of those days. Didn’t like on the parade route they were dancing to modern fungi music… should have been that old folk music they played back in those days.
This was an Exceptional production! That showcased the talent of persons from the East End/Long Look area as well as persons who are descendants of the manumitted slaves! Excellent! Long Look we come from!
Craig and his wife are not defendants of long look! SMH
Craig opened stating that he grew up in the Long Look area and currently resides in East End/ Long Look.
*Descendants.
I have to defend this Craig and Wife talk thrown here. Clearly you have something against him.
The event focused on the descendants yes, but it give way for persons who were born and lived in the communities all their lives. Craig is a BVIslander, grown up in in the EE/LL communities. Went to school, his children went school and grew up there as well. So why can’t he be a part? His mom lived here from before he was born.
It is one thing with my BVI is that when we hate someone. we love throw shade. Please stop it because too you did not help in the planning of the event.