[Pedro St. James Set to Host Scaled Down Coconut Festival]

Savannah, Grand Cayman, February 14, 2022– A celebration of all thing’s coconut, Pedro St. James, and the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) are looking forward hosting its seventh annual Coco Fest on Saturday 26th February albeit a smaller version of the popular event.

“It’s another outlet for entrepreneurs to promote and sell their locally made products but emphasizing the precious coconut fruit,” said TAB Director Patrick Thompson.

Beginning in 2016, Coco Fest was created as a way to celebrate the Cayman coconut and to preserve its ties to Caymanian culture and heritage. The festival, which also highlights local cottage industry business is about remembering a time when the coconut industry was vital in Cayman.

Coco Fest also supports the Shop Local ethos by creating a space for small businesses to showcase and sell their art work, traditional foods and products made from coconut oil or some part of the coconut plant.

“We have had upwards of 30 vendors and demonstrators in past years, and although we are working to downsize this year’s event to ensure we are adhering to the required COVID-19 regulations, we’ve seen a keen interest by vendors, new and old, signing on. I was informed by the PSJ team that all our spots were sold out in about a week’s time,” added Mr. Thompson.

Fidelity Bank Cayman Ltd., who has signed on as the main sponsor for the fourth consecutive year is demonstrating its commitment to supporting Coco Fest and its promotion of small businesses.

“We are proud to sponsor events like this as it highlights our dedication to the community, not only through helping to preserve the history and culture of Pedro St. James through its fundraising but we are in turn supporting small businesses, something we are proud to do as a major banking institution, said Fidelity Bank Senior Business Analyst, Linval Johnson.

Visitors can look forward to an array of locally cooked foods, candies, produce, games, and beauty products. There will also be an arts and crafts corner hosted by the Visual Arts Society.

Cayman Spirits Company have once again also partnered with Coco Fest in which sales of its specialty coconut rum drink will benefit the National Historic Site.

Live entertainment will include One World Entertainment, Little Magic and Pan n’ Riddim steel band.

Entry to Coco Fest is only CI$10 for adults and CI$5.00 for children six to twelve. Children five and under are free. All attendees will receive a raffle ticket with their entry and will be able to purchase more tickets at the Pedro St James info booth.

Coco Fest will take place at Pedro St James Great Lawn in Savannah on Saturday 26th February from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. For information please call 947-3329 or email Mona Meade at [email protected].

Additional parking is located at the Savannah Play Field and at the rear of the Cayman Islands Baptist Church. The TAB courtesy bus will run back and forth to these areas to shuttle patrons to the admissions gate; social distancing protocols will be in effect with the RCIPS on hand to manage traffic flow along the Pedro Castle Road corridor.

NOTE:

The Cayman Islands Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) is responsible for managing the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park; the National Historic Site, Pedro St. James; the Cayman Craft Market and the Hell Geological Site. For information on the TAB or its agencies please email [email protected], call 949-6999 or visit the website www.tab.ky and it social media sites.

In the Gazebo: Cayman Craft Market Vendors