Entertainment
August Monday Parade Delivers Epic Victors: Treasures of the BVI Triumphs and “Lean” by Raul Sprauve Reigns as Road March Champion
The official results for the August Monday Parade for a total of twenty-five festival entries have been released with Treasures of the British Virgin Islands taking the top position for the Adult Troupe category.
An August 10 press statement from the Parade Sub-committee of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee confirmed that more than 1,000 revellers participated in the Monday, August 7 one-and-a-half-mile parade in Road Town, Tortola.
Category winners will receive up to $5,000 in cash prizes. The vibrant parade was led by the esteemed Reverend Yvonne Nibbs-Flores, who was bestowed with this honour to commemorate her remarkable 50 years of involvement in the Virgin Islands Festival.
A panel of judges meticulously evaluated the entries, taking into account factors such as procession, costuming, performance, and overall impression to determine the scores.
“Judges considered procession (first impression upon arrival), costuming, performance, overall impression, among other things to give scores to the entries. Entrants were required to perform for the judges at the intersection of Administration Drive and Waterfront Drive, as well as at the Sir Olva Georges’ Plaza and parallel to Clover’s,” the statement moted.
WInners
Individual Entry: Kazak
Musical Entry: Friends in Steel
Floats:
1st Place – Beyond the Reef
2nd Place – Rotary Family
Children’s Troupe:
1st Place – Dance Ensemble of Nouveau Royale
2nd Place – BVI Dance School
3rd Place – Dingolay
Adult’s Troupe:
1st Place – Treasures of the BVI
2nd Place – xtraVIganza
Floupe:
1st Place – The Way We Were
2nd Place – One Mart
Majorettes/Cheerleaders:
1st Place – Dance Ensemble of Nouveau Royale
2nd Place – BVI Dance School
3rd Place – Dingolay
Mocko Jumbies:
1st Place – BVI Optimum Sky Dancers
2nd Place – xtraVIganza
3rd Place – The Way We Were
Road March: “Lean” by Raul Sprauve
This year’s Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival kicked off on July 22 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Africans in 1834 in the British colonies.
August Festival was launched in 1954 to celebrate the territory’s freedom from colonialism and rich cultural history.
The August Monday Parade is a flagship event of the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival.
This year’s winners will be presented with their well-deserved prizes during the Festival’s Last Lap which is scheduled for Saturday, August 12 at the Irene Penn-O’Neal Festiville.
Entertainment
Caribbean Baking Awards to Stream Live on JTV – Watch the Region’s Best Bakers Compete
Some of the best bakers from across the Caribbean are gearing up for the Caribbean Baking Awards (CBA), a two-day event celebrating creativity, skill, and the flavours that make Caribbean baking unique. The competition will be streamed live on Jahphix Television (JTV), so viewers from across the region and beyond can watch the action as it happens.
Bakers from across the Caribbean will go head-to-head in various categories, putting their skills to the test in front of expert judges. The competition will feature teams from:
- Virgin Islands (US) – Team Hibiscus Sweets
- Trinidad and Tobago – Team Trini Cakes Revellers & Team Flavour Masters Possé
- Jamaica – Team Sweet Success & Team The Dynamic Duo
- Antigua and Barbuda – Team The Glass Jar & Team Sweet Art 268
- Virgin Islands (BVI) – Team Bombshell
- Dominica – Team Donmnik Dou
- Guyana – Team Sweet Secrets
- Barbados – Team Bimstars
- Saint Lucia – Team Fruit Boss
The event takes place on February 21-22, featuring live baking, expert judging, and special guest appearances. Chef Kareem Brooks from Saint Martin will be one of the judges, while hosts Julie Mango and Ricky “Daphox” Bertie will keep the energy high throughout the competition. The celebration will wrap up with an After Party on February 22, featuring a live performance by Onyan and the 3 Cylinder.
Viewers can watch live on JTV and be part of the excitement as bakers compete for top honours.
Tickets to attend in person are $10. Secure yours today and don’t miss out!
For more details and to watch the live stream, visit https://tinyurl.com/CBAwithJTVchannel55
Lesley and Lestene Maduro of LSL Bakery in Virgin Gorda will be among the bakers competing at the Caribbean Baking Awards, set to take place in the British Virgin Islands.
LSL Bakery, a well-known establishment in Virgin Gorda, has been serving pastries, cakes, and other baked goods for years. Founded as a family business, it has grown into a recognised name in the local culinary scene.
The Caribbean Baking Awards bring together top bakers from across the region, with teams representing the British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Guyana. The competition includes categories such as Best Buttercream Cake, Rising Star, Cake Hero, and Best Cupcakes.
The awards ceremony will culminate in the Masquerade Awards Gala Dinner on Saturday, 22 February, at 5:00 PM at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola.
The event will bring together bakers, industry professionals, and guests to celebrate Caribbean culinary craftsmanship.
Voting for the awards opened on 7 September 2024, allowing the public to support their favourite bakers.
The event will also be streamed live on Jahphix Television (JTV).
Unable to attend the event in person? Enjoy the two-day action by securing your tickets for just $10. Click the link below to purchase.
St. Lucian pastry chef Ronald Estephane, the head of Fruit Boss, will participate in the upcoming Caribbean Baking Awards.
Estephane, known for his fruit carvings and pastry designs, previously won the title of Pastry Chef of the Year at the 2024 Caribbean Baking Awards. His work focuses on transforming fruit into edible art, earning recognition within the Caribbean culinary industry.
The event is scheduled for February 21-22, at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, bringing together bakers and pastry chefs from across the region.
This year’s competition will feature participants competing under the theme “Rum Fun.” The event will also include the “Ultimate Bake-Off: Celebrity Grudge Match – BVI Artists Edition,” where local musicians Boss, Jugo and Brent Hoyte will compete in a baking challenge.
The Caribbean Baking Awards continues to recognize professionals in the region’s culinary industry, highlighting innovation and craftsmanship in baking and pastry arts.
Flavor Masters Possé Takes Trinidad and Tobago’s Flavors to the Caribbean Baking Awards
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Caribbean Baking Awards to Stream Live on JTV – Watch the Region’s Best Bakers Compete
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