A celebration of Caribbean culture

The underlining theme for all cultural fairs and festivals in 2007 will reflect the observation of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act. A remembrance service was held at St. Phillip's Church — the site of the Church of the Africans and the "African Settlement" in Kingstown, Tortola — on March 25, the same date the act was first read to the enslaved Africans. St. Philip's is the first church in the entire hemisphere built entirely for black people, and residents hope that it will become one of the World Heritage Sites that the United Nations works to preserve.

The BVI fungi, calypso, reggae and gospel festivals are firmly rooted in African traditions but are distinctly Caribbean. The lively beat of fungi, steel pan and calypso celebrates our heritage all around at hotels, bars and parks. The Easter Festival in Virgin Gorda is held in the spring; the Music Festival is held in May; the Emancipation Festivals in Road Town, East End and Carrot Bay are held in the summer; and the Christmas Festival brightens Main Street in Road Town in December with lights, food, gifts and festivities. At these and other craft fairs held throughout the year, local artists and artisans display their amazing work in rattan, terracotta and wicker, as well as sculptures, watercolours, oil paintings and photography.

The Tourist Board puts together fascinating and informative exhibitions throughout the year. One of these was a 2006 natural science exhibition on Jost Van Dyke titled "Iron Works from the 18th Century," which now forms the nucleus of a permanent museum at the Sugar Mill Estate in Road Town. It also sponsored the "Heritage Health Walk" through the trail of Josiah's Bay in March 2007.

Please contact the event organizer or sponsor to confirm the event dates. We do our best to keep the information current, however event dates are subject to change.

To submit an event for the British Virgin Islands, please e-mail the information to: Contact Us

Want to see a full 2008 calendar of events at a glance? Click here.