The South Valley Community Street Festival is back this year with bold new features and a fully local line-up of performers.
On Saturday, 2 August, the heart of South Valley will be transformed into a purpose-built event space complete with designated areas for food and drinks, arts and crafts, and live entertainment.
At the media launch on Friday, 13 June, organisers revealed that some of Anguilla’s top musical talent will take the stage at this vibrant annual celebration.
Among those confirmed are Latest, Viggy, MadMindz with KJ and Kank, Jaylan Johann, Took & The Boys String Band, 264 Island Boys, and Vere Musiq, along with host Farrah Banks.
This year’s festival will also see the return and expansion of the popular KidZone, with games, a bouncing castle, face painting, vendors, and even space for young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses.
The media launch included remarks from several key figures and supporters.
Soca artist Viglef ‘Viggy’ Gumbs from South Valley said events like this one, are very important, for not only the vendors and artists, but the community at large.
“This is no other festival that I have seen, that you can see young, old, people of all genders, actually embracing one common theme, and that is community,” he said.
“So for me, I’m a very honoured artist to be able to be presented on a stage like this, and I look forward to partnering with South Valley Community Street Festival going forward.”
Commissioner of Police Robert Clark encouraged both visitors and residents to attend the festival and said officers will be there providing security.
“We want you to come. We want you to participate. We want to have an exciting time. We want you to tell your friends. We want you to bring your friends,” he said.
He added: “Please be assured, we will be there to keep you safe. All we ask is please listen to instructions, drink responsibly, but have a great time.”
Sari-Lee Benjamin, secretary of the South Valley Community Club and event coordinator, said the festival will begin at 6am with jouvert, and the KidZone will be open from 1pm to 6pm.
Musical entertainment throughout the day will feature “versatile talent delivering a mix of soca, reggae and riddim vibes”, she said.
Benjamin added: “We are proud of this lineup because it reflects who we are – talented, diverse and deep rooted in our culture.”
Also speaking during the media launch were Anguilla Summer Festival chair Fitzoy Tomilson, Corwin Carty of Tropical Distributors, and Njeri Carty of Dawg Pound Anguilla.
Watch the media launch in full below:
