About BVI Emancipation Festival
The first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August are public holidays in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
On August 1st 1834, the Emancipation Act saw the abolition of slavery across the British Empire.
This momentous event is inscribed into the culture and history of many Caribbean islands through a public holiday on August 1st or the first Monday in August.
For some countries, the celebrations for emancipation have been combined with the festival tradition, transplanting the familiar pre-lent festival tropes to August. Having a festival at different times in the Caribbean also makes economic sense, as the festivals are not competing with each other at the same time for tourism. This is our guide to all the Caribbean Carnival dates.
In the BVI, the festival lasts for two weeks, straddling the last week of July and the first week of August.
Begun in 1954, the festival is a nationwide celebration of freedom from colonialism and cultural history. During the festival, the culture and history of the people is showcased in grand style with extravaganzas of local and international music, pageants, Food Fairs, j'ouvert (street jamming), parades, gospel celebrations and folklore presentations. Watch out for the ‘rise and shine tramps’ - these are noisy parades led by bands in the back of a truck that begin at 3am.
The bands will typically play a style of music we call "Jam Band", which developed in the Virgin Islands. Some popular bands are VIBE, OMG and Showtime band. This style of music is not limited to the BVI and is also enjoyed in the U.S. Virgin Islands as well.
