This year's Virgin Gorda Festival is named in honour of Leon "Kinney" Creque.

The Virgin Gorda 2012 Festival will be held from April 7 through April 9, 2012.

This year’s Virgin Gorda Festival is named after Mr. Creque who is an avid musician, playing both the guitar and banjo and hails from North Sound, Virgin Gorda.

He recently retired from Rosewood Little Dix Bay where he was employed for over 30 years and enjoys his retirement by continuing to play music at the resort as well as at other venues on island including: Mine Shaft, Sugar Cane Restaurant, Bath and Turtle and Rendezvous Bar. Mr. Creque has a keen interest in ensuring fungi music continues in the Virgin Islands and has been a staple at the Virgin Gorda Food Fair for many years.

President of the Virgin Gorda Festival Committee Franklyn Walters told Virgin Islands News Online that all is set for the staging of the festival including the first event of March 31, the food fair on April 7, village opening and other events to follow. Among the entertainment line-up scheduled for this year’s festival are following the opening ceremony on the evening of April 7, entertainment will be provided by Session Reloaded and Red Hot Flames.

On April 8, there will be the Calypso Competition which will be followed by entertainment by Showtime Band and on April 9, following JÓuvert in the morning and Grand Parade later in the day, there will be entertainment by Heart Attack Band.

This year, $100,000 has been allocated to the Virgin Gorda Festival which is an increase from previous years and according to Chairman of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee Mervin Blyden, “Virgin Gorda is a stand-alone event. Carrot Bay and East End and Road Town can benefit mutually from each other because they all happen during the grand Emancipation Festival. However, Virgin Gorda is unique and happens independently without the benefit of any grand marketing. Virgin Gorda also accounts for well over 60% of the overnight visitors to the BVI. As such, after consultation with my committee, we all agreed that the funding should be increased.”

Meanwhile, the first event to kick off March 31, 2012 is the Miss Teen Easter Festival which will feature three contestants, Contestant #1 who is 15 year old Tecora Morgan; Contestant #2, 15 year old Tanieka Gludd, 15; and Contestant #3, a 14 year old second form student , J'sonnia Winter .

Several hot prizes will be awarded in the teen contest with the winner set to cart off with the crown and scepter, winner's trophy, handbag collection, shoe collection, jewellery collection, a watch, digital camera, kindle, spa package and round trip tickets for 2 to Puerto Rico plus accommodations.

Other contestants will receive participation trophies, kindles, bag collection, shoe collection, jewelry collection, spa package, round trip tickets for 2 to St. Thomas and accommodations.