Spectators encouraged to wear turtle-themed accessories

Community groups and businesses on Grand Cayman are being invited to join in the celebration of the start of another turtle nesting season this May, by entering a float in this year’s Batabano parade on May 9, 2020.

The Batabano float theme is “Islas Tortugas” and trophies will be awarded for the top three floats, with the winning float named “Batabano Float Of The Year”.

“It has always been said that the word ‘Batabano’ means the tracks that turtles leave in the sand when they go ashore to nest, so the carnival is a celebration of the start of another turtle nesting season in Cayman, which is also why Batabano has traditionally been held at the beginning of May,” explained Batabano Chairperson, Donna Myrie-Stephen. “We hope that the addition of a turtle-themed float competition in the parade going forward will encourage local groups and businesses to also join in the celebration, while creatively raising awareness of turtle conservation in our islands. It’s also a great opportunity for businesses to promote their brands while providing a great team-building initiative for their employees.”

Mrs. Myrie-Stephen said Batabano spectators are also encouraged to embrace the celebration of the start of this year’s turtle nesting season by donning turtle-themed accessories or green and brown colours for Cayman’s two main turtle species, the Green Sea Turtle and the Hawksbill, while out to watch the Batabano parade.

The Batabano parade will be on Saturday May 9, 2020 starting at 1pm from Public Beach, followed by a free street dance on Harbour Drive until midnight, and the annual Batabano Food Festival.

Some rules and restrictions apply for float entries. Interested groups and businesses can get more information and register their 2020 Batabano float, by emailing [email protected] or call or message Mrs. Myrie-Stephen on 916-1740.

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ABOUT CAYMAN CARNIVAL BATABANO

Established in 1983 by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, Cayman Carnival Batabano is the National Carnival of the Cayman Islands. A salute to Cayman’s turtling heritage, “Batabano” is the native name for tracks left in the sand when sea turtles go ashore to nest, which has always been cause for celebration in the Cayman Islands. From humble beginnings, Cayman Carnival Batabano has grown from a small parade with homemade costumes and floats, to an international tourism attraction with hundreds of masqueraders donning professional costumes by local and international designers, parading down West Bay Road just steps from Cayman’s iconic Seven Mile Beach. A unique carnival that fuses culture and the arts via creative costumes, Caribbean music, local crafts, and a Food Festival worthy of the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, Batabano is symbolically held over the first two weekends of May (including Junior Batabano) as part of the celebration and awareness of the start of Turtle Nesting Season. Today, the non-profit Cayman Carnival Batabano Board of Directors is proud to use its platform to promote and support local turtle conservation efforts in the Cayman Islands. Part-proceeds from Batabano sponsorships will help support select turtle conservation initiatives locally, made possible only through the financial contributions of Cayman’s corporate community and the local Government. For more details, visit www.caymancarnival.com and follow www.facebook.com/batabanocayman, www.instagram.com/caymancarnivalbatabano, and www.twitter.com/batabano_cayman