Music, street dances, costumes, games, food and drink, "pirate invasion", Kids Day, glittering parade, sports events, Heritage Days, fireworks! It's 11 fun-filled, festive days in the sun with something for everyone, and a lot of it FREE!

First it's fireworks, followed by a local song contest and then, almost every day for 11 days, Caribbean rhythms pulsate in open-air street dances until the wee hours of the morning. An authentic slice of the native Caribbean!

A mock "pirate invasion" from the sea! Two old-time sailing vessels, loaded with "pirates" make a Saturday surprise landing at the bowl-shaped George Town harbour, as thousands line the streets to take part in the spectacle or just watch. It's good-natured fun, there's a new twist every year, and families just love it. It's the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region.

http://www.piratesweekfestival.com/

News from John Kane about the 2007 Classic...

"The 20^th World Rugby Classic is just around the corner and there is huge interest in this year’s event judging by the demand for Hospitality and Premium Seat tickets. This year we will be bringing in to Bermuda 600 premium seats, 400 of which will be located on the public side, either side of the halfway line. These seats can be reserved for the day or for the week, so you won’t have to worry about getting up from your seat, to get a beer and find, upon your return, that you have been “gazumped”!

The daily cost of a reserved seat is $40, including admission to the ground, and $175 for the week. General admission for bleacher seating is $25 per day and $100 for the week so the extra cost for a reserve seat represents good value.

Conchman is staged in Lucaya amidst wide boulevard streets and crystal waters in our beautiful tropical paradise – Grand Bahama Island. The entire community shares in this fund-raiser – from children to adult participants and the large group of volunteers who help make it all happen. Join us this November 3rd, 2007 for fun and competition in this our 16th Annual Conchman Triathlon.

1K SWIM, 25K BIKE, 5K RUN

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 2007 8:00 a.m.

TAINO BEACH
GRAND BAHAMA

Including the Iron Kids Conchman Race
at 12:00 Noon

In Co-operation with
Grand Bahama Islandmon Duathlon Committee

A COMMUNITY EVENT
Benefiting
Grand Bahama Local Charities
Freeport Aquatics Club
Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association

Sanctioned by

BAHAMAS
TRIATHLON
ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS LAUNCHED 

Roseau, Dominica – August 10, 2007………. Excitement is beginning to mount in the Nature Island of Dominica as the country begins the countdown to the leading cultural event on the island -the 11^th edition of the World Creole Music Festival from October 26 –28, 2007.  

At the Media launching of the Festival at the Fort Young Hotel last Friday, Executive Director of the Dominica Festivals Commission (DFC), Mr. Val Cuffy announced the line-up that includes artistes and performers from Haiti, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, French Africa and Dominica. 

The line-up for the three nights of pulsating rhythms will include: 

Friday, October 26, 2007- Top Vice, Manu Dibango, Kadans, Bennie Man and Triple K International 

Saturday, October 27, 2007- Skah Shah #1, Djunny Claude, Beres Hammond, Shurwayne Winchester and the WCK Band 

Sunday, October 28, 2007- Bamboolaz, Michele Henderson, Kassav, Midnight Groovers and Grammacks International 

Speaking at the Media Launch, chairman of the DFC, Mr. Sobers Esprit promised patrons, not just the three nights of ‘pulsating rhythms’, from October 26 –28, 2007, but a full calendar of events lasting two weeks. 

The World Creole Music Festival falls in the middle of Dominica’s independence celebrations. Activities planned for the two weeks include: Creole Festival Lyme on October 4^th and 11^th; Who is the Boss, October 20; Heritage Day, Colihaut, October 21; Creole in the Park October 22-25; Traditional Culture Night, October 24^th; National Wob Dwiyet Show, October 25; Creole Day, October 26; Creole in the North, October 28^th; Cabinet Forum, November 1; Creole in the East, November 2^nd; Independence Day Parade and Cultural Gala, November 3^rd.  

Minister for Tourism, Industry and Private Sector Relations, Hon. Yvor Nassief revealed that for the first time in its history the festival made a surplus in 2006 after accounting for all sponsorship.  

The World Creole Music Festival was born in 1997. It was conceived out of the need to provide a platform for Dominican musicians and musical expressions as well as to expose the island’s culture to a more diversified world audience. It was also meant to build solidarity and collaboration between Dominican artistes, music producers and intellectuals and the Dominica’s Creole speaking neighbours in Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia as well as from Francophone Africa, Louisiana, Haiti, Seychelles and other parts of the world. 

The Festival has become one of the signature events in the Caribbean Festival calendar based on sustained visitor arrivals, media coverage and the reputation of the festival among artistes.  

In the last 10 years over 250,000 patrons have travelled from the French West Indies, USA, UK, Canada  and other parts of the Caribbean to the now undisputed Mecca of Creole music- Dominica,  for the annual World Creole Music Festival. 

The major sponsors of the WCMF this year are the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica and Telecommunications giant, Digicel.  

Meanwhile the Dominica Festivals Commission has already started planning for the 12^th Annual WCMF in 2008. Organisers are planning a massive event as it will coincide with Reunion Year, when Dominicans will celebrate Dominica’s 30^th anniversary of Independence.  

As excitement continues to build in anticipation of one of the most sought after events in the Creole speaking Antilles more information can be obtained from www.worldcreolemusicfestival.dm.

Swim with Olympians in St. Croix.

Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI (August 19, 2007)--- The Coral Reef Swim, one of America’s most successful swim competitions, will feature four well-known Olympic swimmers during its 12th annual race Sunday, October 21, 2007, in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Olympians are three-time gold medalist and world record holder Amanda Beard; Hall of Famer Rowdy Gaines, who won three Gold Medals in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and will return to the Olympics in 2008 as a commentator, Margaret Hoelzer, a world champion and American record holder in the 200m backstroke, who is currently training for a medal in Beijing in 2008 and Sydney Olympics Gold Medalist in the 200m fly, Misty Hyman. The Olympians will be swimming in both the solo and relay events and will be involved in other race related events.

Distinguished swimmers also include Pan American Gold Medalist Alex Kostich.

Competitive swimmers, swim coaches and swim enthusiasts from throughout the world will join the Olympians on a course from Buck Island, a U.S. underwater coral reef park, to The Buccaneer, a luxury destination resort on St. Croix’s east end. The Buccaneer’s general manager, Elizabeth Armstrong, is the event’s creator and organizer.

Net proceeds from the Swim will be donated to The Nature Conservancy, which has been instrumental in establishing the East End Marine Park surrounding St. Croix. The Swim is sponsored by Hovensa, which allows for maximum proceeds to flow to the beneficiary.

The Coral Reef Swim navigates the waters of the sensitive East End Marine Park, home to coral reefs, endangered fish species and fisheries, and a high density of green and hawksbill sea turtles who return to shore to nest every summer. The first territorial park in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the East End Marine Park, protects the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean.

The race begins on world-famous Buck Island, which boasts a spectacular beach and living coral reef designated as an underwater park by the National Park Service, continues across a starfish-speckled, blue channel and then along St. Croix’s shoreline of colorful reefs and sandy bottom. The Swim concludes at the main beach of The Buccaneer, where a palm lined finish line and steel pan band greet swimmers along with families and friends.

The 2007 Coral Reef Swim entry fee is $84 per swimmer, which covers a pre-race gathering on October 20 at the Buccaneer, an awards lunch, tee shirt, swim cap, taxi to the boat and the boat ride to the race start on Buck Island. Swimmers can swim the five mile event solo (with or without fins) or participate as part of a three person relay.

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and International festival goers with a diverse presentation of films from The Bahamas and around the world. In addition to showcasing films that might not otherwise be released theatrically, BIFF provides unique cultural experiences, educational programs, and forums for exploring the past, present & future of cinema. BIFF aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout The Bahamas and the world.

This longstanding tradition of merrymaking and revelry on the island will kick off on January 25th and last through February 5th, 2008. More than 250,000 people attend Mardi Gras! Galveston every year, and this year's celebration is projected to be even bigger and better with more parades, more entertainment, more beads, and of course, more excitement!

The Park Board of Trustees and Mardi Gras! Galveston Committee are still in the planning stages for the 24th anniversary of Mardi Gras! Galveston, but are very excited about the many things in store.

In 2008 merrymakers can expect a traditional Mardi Gras celebration with plenty of parade processions, entertainment, art exhibits, sporting events, and elaborate masquerade balls. The entertainment line-up as well as official Mardi Gras! Galveston artwork will be announced at a later date, but for continuous updates on Mardi Gras! Galveston 2007 visit www.mardigrasgalveston.com or call 1-888-GAL-ISLE.

Friday, February 1: TBA
Saturday, February 2: TBA

During Dickens on The Strand, Galveston’s Strand National Historic Landmark District is transformed into Victorian London with costumed characters filling Galveston’s turn-of-the-century commercial district. As visitors enjoy the festive Christmas atmosphere, downtown Galveston feels as though one has stepped back to a time when Victorian England reigned supreme and Charles Dickens’ characters were loved by all - including Galveston readers of the time. With continuous entertainment on six stages, a host of children’s activities including a playground full of real snow, and three different parades featuring Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria, Dickens on The Strand offers visitors a welcome winter escape to sunny, festive Galveston.

The festival, always held the first weekend after hurricane season has officially ended, offers Galvestonians an opportunity to celebrate having weathered yet another steaming summer of Gulf-Coast evacuation-readiness and get outdoors again after the heat has died down. Galveston’s Decembers are always mild, with Gulf Breezes and brilliant blue skies. The snow that flies through the air during the parades is always machine-generated.

Now celebrating its 34th year, Dickens on The Strand had humble beginnings. It started in 1974, a time when many of Galveston Island’s once magnificent Victorian commercial buildings were in decay and under the threat of demolition. A group of Galveston Historical Foundation members knew the fate of their city’s architectural history was in their hands and they created the festival in order to showcase the downtown architecture with the hope of generating a positive feeling about the downtown area. The downtown has now been magnificently restored, and the festival continues to grow and change year after year.

Named one of the “100 Most Fun Places To Be In the World” by travel writer Alan Davis, Dickens on The Strand is not just a tradition for Texans, but for visitors from all over the world. Dickens on The Strand has achieved national and regional recognition as one of the “Top One Hundred Festivals” in North America by the American Bus Association and one of the “Top Ten Festivals” in the state by Texas Highways Magazine.

In addition to the continuous action on the Strand, visitors are invited to several special events each day. On Friday, November 30, guests can feast on fine food and enjoy the festive atmosphere of the 1880 Garten Verein dancing pavilion at the Traditional Dickens Feast. Hand-bell choirs will perform traditional holiday carols at St. Joseph’s Church, a gothic revival church built in 1859. On Saturday, December 1, guests are invited to start their day with a full English country breakfast, served in the ballroom of Ashton Villa, Galveston’s famous antebellum mansion.

Galveston Historical Foundation invites everyone to come and join this wonderful and unique holiday tradition. For more information please visit www.galvestonhistory.org or call 409-765-7834.

Hours:
Saturday, December 1: 10am - 9pm
Sunday, December 2: 10am - 6pm