Cayman Mardi Gras to return in 2016
(CNS): Once the holidays are over, everyone will get a chance for another round of parties when Cayman Mardi Gras returns for the second year, from 8-10 February. The three-day festival will include home-grown talent, international celebrities, an evening celebrating local and Cajun cuisines and musical entertainment.
Event director Matthew Leslie said he hopes the many cruise ship passengers who will be visiting Cayman at that time will get inspired by the festivities to return the following year as stayover guests.
“This festival gives a chance for the Cayman Islands to showcase the fun and flavour that we have to offer people visiting our island. They will not just want to be here for a few hours but we hope that this will draw them to return and stay a little longer,” he said, adding that he wants to compete with similar celebrations elsewhere.
“At a time of year where other countries such as Trinidad is pushing their carnivals and tourism market, we need to be competing as well and show that we have more to offer than just sand and sea,” Leslie said. “We want people to feel that they can come and enjoy our events and activities and pump more life into the capital as well as into the local businesses.”
During the Mardi Gras, there will be a two-day street festival on Fort Street, which will include the Craft Market relocated for the occasion. Local artists and DJs will entertain and food will be on sale in keeping with the flavour of the event.
Among the featured activities on the evening of Monday, 8 February will be restaurants serving their best home-grown dishes, both Cayman- and Cajun-inspired, as well as an award ceremony honouring local talent. Model and actress Selita Ebanks will be attending and the Swanky Kitchen Band will be part of the entertainment. There will also be a fireworks display.
The following day, Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist Fatman Scoop and MC Alex Ortiz from HBO’s Bad Boys of Comedy are returning to host the main events of Fat Tuesday.
The finale on Wednesday will feature electronic dance music throughout the day on the waterfront by Margaritaville thanks to various DJs, culminating in a party that evening headlined by DJ Pauly D of the reality series Jersey Shore. At the after-party, international celebrity DJ Kay Jay will provide the entertainment.
Saxon MG has again signed on as the official transportation sponsor for the festival, offering free shuttles during all three days. Route schedules will be posted closer to the event kick-off.
For more information, visit the Cayman Mardi Gras website
Like normal Mardi Gras, but crap.
If you mean all the positive trappings of Caymanian cuisine, traditions and culture, without the bawdy excesses and risque nudity of a New Orleans variety of event, then so be it! “Count your many blessings, list them one by one…!”