Virgin Islands Marks 71st Emancipation Festival
The Virgin Islands has launched its 71st Emancipation Festival, a month-long celebration that also marks 191 years since the abolition of slavery in these islands. Events across Road Town, East End Long Look and Carrot Bay will feature parades, food fairs, mokojumbie performances and traditional music under the 2025 theme celebrating unity, culture and freedom.
The Virgin Islands has officially kicked off its 71st Emancipation Festival, a month-long celebration that commemorates 191 years since the Act of 1 August 1834 freed more than 5,000 enslaved people in these islands. The official launch took place on May 30, 2025 at Market Square in Road Town, where musicians, dancers and mokojumbies gathered to announce programmes, honourees and this year’s winning theme and slogan.
The festival traces its roots to the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town on 1 August 1834 — an event that reportedly sparked island-wide rejoicing with church picnics, horse races, water sports, maypoles and street dancing. That early tradition evolved over decades and took on its modern carnival form in the 1950s.
Parade floats, beauty queens and colourful costumes became fixtures, and the celebration eventually grew into a three-day public holiday starting on the first Monday of August, with Monday established as parade day. This year’s festivities are being held under the theme “Uniting Our Culture, Freedom, and Joy in the Virgin Islands for Festival 2025,” submitted by Mrs.
Her creative statement emphasised reflection on emancipation and the unity of the Territory’s diverse heritage. The winning slogan, “Embrace the Past, Let Unity Thrive, as we Celebrate Our Culture at Festival 2025!” was contributed by Jacob Edwards. During the launch, organisers also announced Mr.
Neil Frett as the 2025 honouree in recognition of his long-standing contributions to culture, community development and the arts. Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, said the festival offers residents and visitors an opportunity to reflect on the past while celebrating present achievements and looking ahead with hope. “Through musical entertainment, Virgin Islands cuisine and performing arts, the celebration allows everyone to feel pride and connection to their roots,” she said.
Events stretch across communities: Road Town’s Festival Village will host nightly performances by regional bands, food and drink stalls, and special events such as Food Fairs and Fungi Fests. Grand Monday remains the highlight with parades, while other days are set aside for horse racing, water sports and local community parades in East End Long Look and Carrot Bay.
Families are encouraged to take part, support local vendors and use the festival as a moment to honour heritage and strengthen community ties.
Primary source: Welcome