Montserrat will be celebrating its annual Calabash Festival from Sunday, July 16 through Sunday, July 23, 2017. Organized by the Montserrat Hospitality Association, under the theme “Celebrating Our African Heritage”, the Festival will include a number of activities. The event has been named after the calabash fruit which has traditionally been used to produce eating utensils, musical instruments, and decorative items. The Festival has been identified as one of Montserrat’s cultural event, and will be packed with entertaining and educational activities.
Activities for this year’s event will include a Calabash Exhibition at the Public Library that will feature exhibits from Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Dominica; a Calabash Food Fair with vendors serving culinary delights from many different islands and cultures; live Iron Band where revelers and spectators can dance to the sound of metal pieces being used as musical instruments; and an adventure hike. Other activities will include a Grand Gospel Concert where talent and culture will be displayed through song and dance; an island Boat Tour that will showcase spectacular views of the former capital, Plymouth and surrounding environs; and a Kite Flying Family Fun Day. The Festival will conclude with a Grand Art Expo, designed to showcase the local talents and creativity of the island’s artists.