NEW PIRATES FEST MAKES LANDFALL IN WEST BAY THIS WEEKEND

BY Staff Writer

If the events of the Friday and Saturday’s start of the 2022 Pirates Fest are anything to go by, anyone who missed it - and those who attended - should head to West Bay this weekend for more fun-filled family festivities as the newly expanded festival continues.

After a two-year break, the programme, re-branded as Pirates Fest (previously Pirates Week), is being staged throughout the land with weekend festivities in the various districts during October and November.

The crowds descended on North Side and Bodden Town in huge numbers last weekend for what is being hailed “a roaring success” featuring numerous activities for all age groups in a spirit of Cayman togetherness.

Food, arts, culture, music, meeting up with old friends and making new friends, culminating with a fireworks display and dancing under the stars marked an unforgettable occasion, according to Ventisha Connolly of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, coordinator of the national calendar of events.

“Both events had nothing but rave reviews from the people who attended,” she gushed reflecting on the well-attended events in North Side and Bodden Town.

This weekend, all roads lead to West Bay for another explosion of Cayman culture and traditions.

Eziethamae Bodden, of the West Bay Pirates Fest committee, is excited about what they have in store for the people of the area, the wider Cayman community, and visitors.

From the formalities of an opening ceremony to a packed programme of festival activities they have organised, it will be a day well spent in West Bay.

“We have a line of cooks with nice tasting foods and treats and we have lots of displays. People are going to be shocked when they see them!” she confidently exclaims.

West Bay is famous for its arts and crafts and lots of that will be on display and for sale.

“West Bay is known for all the thatch work and the ladies will be doing demonstrations and teaching the children,” she said noting that for schools now planning their respective heritage days many items especially handmade hats and other items will be available.

Fun-filled events galore for community participation will also be staged such as conch-shell blowing and hula-hoop competitions will be held at the specially designated Heritage Village in West Bay.

“We’re planning for a good time in West Bay,” Eziethamae Bodden said, inviting everyone to join in this weekend’s festivities.

Underlining Pirates Fest 2022 which for the first time is being held each weekend in October and November, is building on the success of the previous Pirates Week activities and focusing on Cayman’s culture and traditions.

It’s a point driven home by both Eziethamae Bodden, of the West Bay committee and national Pirates Fest coordinator Ventisha Connolly.

“Our heritage and culture are very much a part of us. We need to showcase our heritage. We need to maintain our heritage. We know that we have a lot of people who’ve come and joined us, but we mustn’t forget where we came from and of teaching our children and grandchildren our heritage and culture of the Cayman Islands that they don’t forget it.”

That important statement by Eziethamae Bodden is supported by national coordinator Ventisha Connolly.

“Our history has been written several times, not necessarily by Caymanians but by other people who’ve come here and tried to immerse themselves in our culture and our heritage and tried to write out history for us,” she observes.

“These culture and heritage days we have for Pirates Fest is the chance for us as Caymanians to teach our children and our youth what our history is and have it written in their minds by us Caymanians.”