PHOTOS: VG Easter Fest blends culture, music and community spirit
A festive display of colours, cultural displays, dance and song enveloped Virgin Gorda as residents celebrated the Easter weekend with traditional activities such as the Rise & Shine Tramp, and other cultural showcases.
The Virgin Gorda Easter Festival 2026 drew hundreds of residents and visitors to Spanish Town and the festival village.
Activities began early on Saturday with the Rise & Shine Tramp at 4 am, followed by the Seriene Maduro Cultural Food Fair, which featured local dishes, vendors, farmers and young entrepreneurs, alongside live performances and cultural demonstrations.
Junior Minister for Culture Luce Hodge-Smith welcomed the level of participation and support.
“The support from the community is overwhelming, and we want to encourage more persons to continue to support us,” she stated.
Festival Committee Chairman Reshawn Stevens said organisers aimed to improve the experience this year by relocating the food fair to a central venue. He added that the event combined culture and entertainment across the Easter weekend.
The Avanell Morton Festival Village opened on Saturday evening, with performances from regional and local acts, including Adam O and Blind Earz, alongside several bands. Sunday’s activities continued with themed entertainment, including the ‘Shades of Pink’ event featuring D’Yani, DJ Mangee and The Awesome Jamband.
The weekend also included the Easter Hat Parade and culminated in the Easter Monday parade, which featured participation from local and regional groups. Stevens noted the importance of community involvement in sustaining the festival.
Events concluded with final performances in the festival village, bringing the three-day celebration to a close.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Was this a festival celebrating emancipation or a marketing and campaigning tool for a certain businessman?
Festival plays a critical role in driving economic activity across multiple sectors, including hotels, ferry services, restaurants, and retail businesses. Additionally, the sponsorship of troupes by local businesses helps to further distribute this economic benefit throughout the community. In return, sponsors gain valuable exposure by promoting their brands to a large, captive audience.
It is my hope that more businesses recognize this opportunity and leverage the Easter Festival as a platform to execute impactful marketing and advertising campaigns like this person you are referencing
We need more diversity, the BVI needs cultural enrichment. In Europe people have to accept that their society is transforming, more diversity, people say for the better. Because Europe needed improvement. Well, God knows BVI needs improvement also…