BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis (November 01, 2010): Spirits will be lifted and excitement will fill the air this coming Friday (Nov. 5) as Sandy Point-based SPIRIT unveils the brand of a new community festival that’s been in the pipelines for some time now.
In a festive night dubbed ‘Chambalay’, the group of community change-makers, is set to awaken the streets of Sandy Point with three spectacular crowd-drawing events, culminating in the unveiling of a logo for its upcoming festival.
The night begins with a cultural Chambalay jam through the streets with chambalay torches and the music of pan and an iron band.
Join in as SPIRIT, with its hordes of youthful merrymakers, brings back the fun of yesteryears in its first ever Iron Band jam walk-through.
The jam starts at 7:00 P.M. and leads up to Mount Idle, where for the first time SPIRIT will hold its Black Auction – place the highest bid and walk away with services from SPIRIT member!
Just before the group whets the public’s appetite with a taste of next year’s festival, the mic will be open to any young singer, who has talent enough to keep the crowd with their lyrics and music, and who is brave enough to battle against their peers in SPIRIT’s first 'King of the Mic' Elimination.
Organizers of the event promises a bash for everyone to come and enjoy and while plans gleam with a fantastic introduction, Seanel Riley, head of the task force appointed to spearhead the first phase of the festival's planning, said this is just the beginning of a ground-breaking festival.
‘’The Federation has already sampled the quality of events that SPIRIT stages and the upcoming festival which is slated for next April is going to be fresh: a new image, new ideas, new blood!
‘’As we get closer to next April,’’ Riley added, ‘’we intend to issue a skeleton of our events schedule – one that undoubtedly is going to be packed with new and innovative ideas as it is our goal to appeal to a wide section of the community as possibly.’’
As early as 1971, before the nationalizing of Carnival, Sandy Point was seen as the hub of community festivities, and according to Riley, SPIRIT is grateful for the legacy laid down by groups such as The Sandy Point Self Help Group, Superfly, SPODACS (Dynarama) and Easterama. Through their hard work, the group can now build on the foundation laid to deliver high quality, memorable events.
‘’In order to know where we are going we must firstly know from whence we came and to acknowledge those before us that would have paved the way. Therefore SPIRIT wishes to congratulate the previous EASTERAMA Committee for their hard work and dedication over the years,’’ he said.
The decision to revive the community festival came from a six-week community needs assessment undertaken by SPIRIT in May of this year, as many community residents thought that such events have the potential to pull people closer together.
The group invites all to be part of history when the new logo and name will be revealed. Bring a pan; bring a fren’; bring back memories in Chambalay 2010!!
