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Cultural Emancipation Celebration in SCB slated for August Tuesday

With no horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay on August Tuesday yet again, the void is being filled with a Cultural Emancipation Celebration from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Ebenezer Thomas Primary school grounds on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Photo: Facebook/File
On display at the Cultural Emancipation Celebrations will be items that give a snapshot of the past. Photo: Facebook
On display at the Cultural Emancipation Celebrations will be items that give a snapshot of the past. Photo: Facebook
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- With no horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay on August Tuesday yet again, the void is being filled with a Cultural Emancipation Celebration from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Ebenezer Thomas Primary school grounds on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

According to the organisers, the Sea Cows Bay Heritage Group, the day will be filled with delicious cultural food, lots of fun, and many cultural activities reminiscent of the good old days.

Visitors to the Cultural Emancipation Celebration will be able to enjoy a variety of traditional dishes, including goat head soup, peas soup, fried pot fish, Johnny cakes, almond, ginger, and coconut sugar cakes; guava cheese, cakes, and other treats. There will also be an assortment of local drinks on sale.

Mango Medley

The highlight of the day; however, will be the showcasing of the mango fruit called the Mango Medley, where persons will be able to have free samples of several different dishes demonstrating the versatility of the mango fruit.

There will also be a variety of herbs and fruit trees on sale.

Patrons will be able to purchase locally made straw hats, straw bags, and other handmade straw products.

One of the attractions will surely be Plait Pole Dancing and Demo by the Dynamic Ribbon Dancers. The plait pole demonstration will be open to anyone willing to join in and learn the art of plaitting a pole.

Donkey carriage races

Other activities will include donkey carriage rides around the school, and traditional races such as late for school (bring your socks and tennis shoes), lime and spoon, sack race, three-legged race, bucket race and flat race; and bun eating competition.

On display will be items that give a snapshot of the past.

This year’s posters will feature horse owners, jockeys, musicians, and softball teams of the village of Sea Cows Bay.

Meanwhile, Fungi Music and Story Telling Music will be playing all day long. In between the sweet sound of fungi music, well-known local author Janice V. Nibbs will tell stories of life in Sea Cows Bay.

According to the Sea Cows Bay Heritage Committee, a Cultural Emancipation Celebration will be a wonderful way to celebrate the VI's 192nd year of freedom from slavery.

13 Responses to “Cultural Emancipation Celebration in SCB slated for August Tuesday ”

  • NONESENSE (23/07/2026, 09:14) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Stewps. Y'all just need to stoo this thing with all those donkey et etc. Live!
  • Wellsah (23/07/2026, 10:36) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    donkey races in carrot bay more culturally accurate than any hass race
    • @wellsah (23/07/2026, 17:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      I didn’t see any references to donkey races in the article. What it described were donkey carriage rides around the school, which is an entirely different activity. This looks like a wholesome day of family fun rooted in BVI culture, and the Sea Cows Bay community should be proud. The organisers deserve commendation for stepping in and filling an important gap.
  • Herbs Powa (23/07/2026, 12:41) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Those big countries busy improving technology and factories while the politicians here teaching the children about donkeys.
  • Sounds to me (23/07/2026, 13:56) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Like it is going to be good. My only thing is please find cooks in Sea Cows Bay that is going to cook
    authentic village foods that the elders use to cook. Not looking forward to red peas soup with carrots or tarts with crust the size of a cake.Please bake the simple but tasty tarts and quail bays like my grandmother and the late ms. Wilda use to bake.
  • Tthe 3RD Rep (23/07/2026, 14:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    has gotten creative - he let the horses GO - and get some donkeys - AND add a Lil CULTURE to it AND " BAM " WE GOT A BRAND NEW CULTURE EVENT IN THE THIRD / WELL ~ " NAUGHT ALEO" WENT ON STAGE WITH VIBES CARTEL AND FLEX OFF HESELF ON CINDY / SO WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE 3RD DISTRICT REP FLEXING OFF HESELF ON A DONKEY TO SHOW US HE STILL GOT IT AND TO SCARE OFF ANY WANNABE THREAT TO HIS DOMINANCE IN HIS OWN BACKYARD , ( WHICH WOULD NOT BE ATOLLERATED ) OR THEY WILL BE TRAMPLED .
  • pop (23/07/2026, 16:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    @horse pawo. Facts. They need to get out of that.
    Donkey
    This that race
    Look how the entire caribbean carnival massive, big revenue for their country.

    Here is just stupid
  • 1 (24/07/2026, 07:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good move to the organizers
  • oh yes (24/07/2026, 08:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want the good foods that the elderly cooks use to cook in the village. Home made breads, homemade tarts you name it. We also want to see some of the crochet ms. Rosie Aaron mother use to crochet. Her late mother Ms. Roslind was one of those excellent cooks and I know she passed it on to her daughters.There were other excellent cooks and bakers in Sea Cows Bay and they pass the skills on to their daughters.
  • Pathetic (24/07/2026, 08:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    While displaying what’s left of our culture is good, it’s really depressing to go from the biggest/most exciting horse racing day of the year to this. How sad. Pathetic.
    • Wellsah (24/07/2026, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      yea lets take over dem people flat land and drop 15 million+ for a hass track for this event just for you! If you love the sport there are so many tracks you can visit nearby, maybe you can get Chinese investors to build a track like in St. Lucia


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