Festival Chairman Natalie Penn Lake showed Adaejah Hodge and Michelle Smith that when the lime and spoon hit the road, not all medals count!
Penn Lake took the win in the highly entertaining Lime and Spoon Race, getting the better of two athletes who have collected CARIFTA medals, CAC gold and even a Diamond League bronze.
But perhaps we shouldn’t have been too surprised.
Natalie is no stranger to the track. She grew up around athletics and was once a track athlete herself, proudly representing Flemming House.
So, when the spoon and lime was placed in her hand and she hit the starting line, maybe she simply went back to her roots.
Adaejah and Michelle have sports tourism covered, but Natalie clearly decided to stay in her lane and remind everybody that right now, it’s Festival Tourism season — and she is BVI Tourism too! 🇻🇬
And just like that, the Festival Chairman added another medal to the collection — although this one may not be going into the trophy cabinet anytime soon.
As the fun continues, the BVI’s 72nd Emancipation Festival is now coming to an end.
Festivities officially close out tonight at the LaVida Cottay Festival Village, and everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the final night.
This year’s Festival brought together residents, Virgin Islanders living abroad and visitors from near and far. Freedom was lived, culture was celebrated, and plenty of people had the opportunity to let loose, lime and simply enjoy themselves.
Of course, no Festival is perfect.
There were physical altercations, disappointments and areas that clearly need improvement. Those issues should not be ignored. But despite the challenges, the overall festivities were widely received and enjoyed, and once again, Festival demonstrated why it remains such an important part of the Virgin Islands experience.
And now, before the last song is played and the lights go out at the Festival Village, perhaps it is time to start thinking about Festival 73.
Guavaberry Media believes the planning should begin as soon as possible.
If we truly want Festival to continue growing as a tourism product, the build-up cannot begin a few weeks before the first event. The planning, promotion and marketing need to start early — and they need to reach far beyond the BVI.
The dates, major events and overall Festival calendar should be promoted throughout the region and internationally early enough for people to plan their vacations, book flights, secure accommodations and make BVI Festival part of their summer plans.
Because Festival is more than a party.
Festival is culture.
Festival is freedom.
Festival is tourism.
Festival is business.
The 72nd is coming to a close.
So while we celebrate what we accomplished this year, let’s start building what comes next.
Time to start building the 73rd.
And Adaejah and Michelle…
Allyuh might need to ask Natalie for a rematch. 😂🥄🍋🇻🇬