VIBE Band getting up close and personal with the patrons at the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO

Scores of persons came out to support the last event, the Beach picnic and fun day at the VG Easter Festival on April 2, 2018. Photo: VINO

Highlights from the VG Easter Festival Explosion on April 2, 2018. Photo: VINO

Political candidate Mr Julian Willock, left, with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) at the Beach Picnic and Family Fun Day on Monday April 2, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters

More highlights from the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO

Highlights from the VG Easter Festival Explosion on April 2, 2018. Photo: VINO

OMG Band closing out the VG Easter Festival Beach Picnic and Fun Day. Photo: VINO

Families, friends and children enjoying the fun day at the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO

Scenes from the Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Beach Picnic and Fun Day on April 2, 2018. Photo: VINO

Tourist enjoying the VG Easter Festival. Photo: VINO

Highlights from the VG Easter Festival Explosion on April 2, 2018. Photo: VINO

Patrons dubbed the VG Easter Festival Explosion a 'success' despite the scale down following the hurricanes of September 2017. Photo: VINO

The event began with the musical sounds from Relentless band followed by VIBE while OMG band closed off the night.

Patrons were treated to a fashion show hosted by Mr Nice Guy clothing store located in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, while booth vendors catered to the palate of patrons with local food and drinks.

Residents dubbed VG Easter Festival a “success”

Sharing the same sentiments, residents who attended the VG Easter Festival expressed to our newsroom that this year’s festival turned out to be a “success” despite the scale down.

In an interview with Vivian T. Simmonds, a resident of Virgin Gorda, she expressed that the venue should become a “permanent spot” for the festival.

She said, “The field that the food fair was at was very convenient for persons because it was right by the dock and you did not have to travel very far like the old venue. They should really make it a permanent spot for the festival. I like it and I know other persons liked the convenience of it too. Overall the festival was good and I enjoyed it.”

One booth owner stated that despite the scale down, the festival was very “festive” and she appreciated everyone who came out to support the event.

“I know persons are still trying to recover from Hurricane Irma and Maria and some were even against the festival but I am glad that the committee went ahead with it because it gives us as people a sense of normalcy despite everything that the territory went through,” while admitting that she was “skeptical” at first that persons were not going to support the festival. “It was a good turn out.”

Jamal N. Francis, a resident of Tortola, commented that he was very anxious to see how the festivities would turn out because he did not have “high expectations” for the festival.

However, he admitted that he was “surprised” because although it was small, he enjoyed the events overall. “I enjoyed the festival overall but I like the food fair the most because of the different food that was there and I eat a belly full. What was interesting was that different countries prepared the same type of food but in their own way. I’m here at the beach with some of my friends and it is just a nice day to relax.”

“Our local bands should be more supported” – VG resident

Speaking with a Virgin Gorda resident, she said that she “really loved” that the festival was small and “appreciated” the local bands that participated.

“This should be a regular thing where more local bands are featured during the festivities of the territory rather than have so much international artistes. I am not saying there should not be international artistes because we have expatriates here too but this is a time that we are celebrating our culture and featuring more of our local bands should be more supported," she said.