(TAB) – The Cayman Islands will once again have representation at the Feria Juniana Carnival this weekend in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.    It has been over a decade since the delegation known simply as the “Cayman Islands Band” made its first appearance in the Honduras carnival circuit. First travelling to La Ceiba, the group gained popularity and began receiving invitations to attend other carnivals held in the outer cities of Honduras.

Griscela Ebanks, who along with her team has been arranging the trip for 16 years says carnival organizers for San Pedro Sula saw the Cayman Islands Band in La Ceiba and in an effort to grow their event, invited the delegation to attend.   “The Cayman Islands Band receives quite a bit of coverage on Live TV and in the past has even been highlighted online and in local newspapers for its unique blend of pirate and carnival characters. The exposure is vast nationally and internationally,” said Ms. Ebanks.

This is the fourth year Pirates Week General Manager Melanie McField will be attending. With Saturday’s Feria Juniana estimated to have around 400,000 spectators she explained the benefits of having a presence in the Central American Carnival.

“Latin America is a growing audience for our tourism product and with direct airlift to the area, we are seeing more interest in travel to the Cayman Islands reciprocated for Pirates Week and the local carnivals,” she said.

The 20-member delegation, which leaves Friday 28^th June includes award winning costume designer Reba Dilbert, local pirates Darvin Ebanks, who captains the Bloody Bay Buccaneers; Orneil Galbraith, Captain of the Las Tortugas Pirate Krewe as well as Radio Cayman’s “DJ Silver Fox”, Paul Akal; Pirates Week Festival staff and other revelers.

Ms. Ebanks thanks supporters for their dedication over the years, “We have to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Premier, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, Cayman Airways, Cayman Carnival Batabano, Pirates Week and of course Reba Dilbert for her work on costumes.”

The Cayman Islands Band also made an appearance in this year’s Punta Cana Carnival in the Dominican Republic in February.

About Pirates Week
Spectators will  enjoy a series of parades and fireworks displays, street dances, costume contests, sporting competitions, happy hours, a celebration of traditional foods, music and much more, stretching across all three islands.

Pirates Week 2019 will start in Cayman Brac on Friday 1st November, move on to Grand Cayman on Thursday 7th November and finish up Sunday 17th November in Little Cayman and will be another 11 fun filled days of mock “pirate invasions” and celebration of our culture and heritage!

We start the Grand Cayman festival with a fantastic happy hour and kick-off party on Thursday 7th November and on Friday night, the festival goes off with a bang with a spectacular firework display that is not to be missed! After the fireworks, we move straight into the annual festivities; there’s no better place to be in the Caribbean.

Immediately following the Grand Cayman festivities, the island will celebrate its well-loved District Days! Over the span of five days, each district in Grand Cayman will celebrate the aspects that make these beautiful islands so unique.

2019 District Days will be held between 12th and 16th November and are as follows:

Tuesday, 12th November – East End

Wednesday, 13th November – West Bay

Thursday, 14th November – North Side

Friday, 15th November – Bodden Town

Saturday, 16th November – George Town

If you would like more information about this topic or would like to sponsor an event, want to join in on the ‘pirate invasion’ or volunteer for the festival office or volunteer for this year’s festival, please contact Lori at 949-5078, email [email protected] .

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