Pirate's Week 2009 | Schedule of Events | Photos

Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 Oct 2005 Posts: 75

I for one, wish they would go back to the old time frame for Pirates Week...the last weekend in October. It is too close to Thanksgiving for me to go and I did enjoy being there for this celebration.

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:

Hi SherryC: I think the Pirate's Week committee changed the dates because it rained during the previous week for three or more straight years in a row. Personally, I don't think there is any greater chance of rain on any given day or week between October and November, although statistically we receive almost twice as much rain in October than November.

What the chart fails to consider is the strength and duration of rainfall. It's not unusual for us to receive 5-6" of rain in a single hour and then have blue skies and sunshine the rest of the day. Weather in the tropics is really difficult to predict but I can say that unless there is some type of tropical feature in the area, it seems to be warm and sunny most of the time. sun

Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

Of the last official "Pirates Week" for all of us saddened old timers.
cant make it due to family illness. Would so love to be there for the last one. What will I do with my pirate "stuff' Anyone want to buy a cutlass that works. or a dagger that works, have a good replica gun

Sad

dianne

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject:

caymandj - This is not the last official Pirate's Week; they only changed the date by a few weeks. Everything else will be exactly the same or better, as new businesses sponsor even more exciting Pirate's Week events.

Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 8

thanks Joe
I thought the new goverment had decided to drop the "Pirate" out of Pirates week and make it "Heritage"

Frankly I thought they moved the time to place it in "high" season. More money, money money!!

But I will miss this trip. And all the local ladies selling their great home cooked food at the big landing party.

have one for me martini

caydj

Newbie Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 4

How long will the parade last and how many entries will there be?

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject:

PRESS RELEASE:
Contact:
Casandra Hibbert
Director
National Festival Pirates Week
1 345 949 5078/ 1 345 525 3817
E-mail: festivaldirector@candw.ky

Teen Disco focuses on Safety in 2009

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – 9 November 2009: An exciting part of the National Festival Pirates Week is the Teen Up, Teen’s Own Disco happening this year on the 14 and 22 November at the Cayman Craft Market. Sponsored by local Top Taste Restaurant and Bodden & Beverages/ Pepsi, it is an opportunity for Teens to enjoy themselves in a safe environment while dancing the night away to the latest reggae, hip hop and soca music with the Islands most popular DJ’s.

This year, the focus will be on safety. The National Festival Office and its Executive Committee would like to stress new measures and procedures to the public to ensure a safe event in 2009.

The Teen Disco is an event that was created for teens age 13-17 whereby they can enjoy a clean and safe event. Therefore, no alcohol will be permitted on site and mix master DJ Flex will be playing the latest hits but all ‘clean’ music for the teens.

It has been noted that parents would drop off their kids who are under the age of 13 and this will not be allowed anymore. Local & Community officers will be onsite to ensure that kids that are younger or adults much older are kept out of the event. Security Guards will also be on duty to do a frisk search as teens enter the event as well as monitor the restroom areas which have been destroyed in the past.

“It is our goal to put in place as many measures as possible to ensure a safe and clean event for our young people. With so much that is happening in the community right now we want to be proactive and not reactive so additional officers and guards will be on duty. We are asking all parents to help us in our endeavors and ensure that their children if not of the proper age are not dropped off for this event,” explained National Festival Director, Casandra Hibbert.

ABOUT PIRATES WEEK FESTIVAL:

The Pirates Week Festival is a not-for-profit event that is funded solely by civic-minded companies and individuals in the Cayman Islands through sponsorships and fundraisers.

The event is normally scheduled in November and is a celebration of the history and culture of the Cayman Islands. It is a fun-filled fourteen days of fireworks, street dances, teen discos/parties, song contest, costume competitions, landing pageant, pirate invasion, float parade, road races, children’s fun day, golf tournament, turtle release, underwater treasure hunt, cardboard boat race, food festivals, and district heritage celebration days on all three islands.

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

PRESS RELEASE:

Strong team behind National Festival success!

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – 9 November 2009: The National Festival has been blessed with years of hard working individuals who donate their time and personal resources to ensure its success. Many have worked on the different committees including the executive and landing committees as well as the heritage / district day committees or just as volunteers.

As noted in the tribute given at the blessing service on 1 November, the first Pirates Week in Cayman took place in 1977 with the late Rudy Selzer being chairman of the first committee with Colin Panton as his deputy chairman. Over the years there have been many other chairmen (now referred to as Executive Director’s) including Caroline Pells, Dick Sander, Bruce Copeland, Frank McField, Mike Lockwood, Dave Martins, and now currently Casandra Hibbert. Probably the most memorable was the late Mike Lockwood who really became the Chief Pirate for 16 years.

The Executive Director has always been guided by an Executive Committee drawn from people from all walks of life on the island and who are too numerous to name but to them we owe a lot. They are the ones that had the ideas such as the longest beard, culinary, songfest and costume competitions. We are glad the tradition is still strong and that new competitions and events are being introduced to the Festival each year, for example the cardboard boat race and the steel pan competition.

The Executive Committee for 2009 include Ms. Ann Mason (representing press media and major sponsor Caymanian Compass), Ms. Atanda LaForest (representing title sponsor Digicel), Mr. Brad Ebanks (representing police – marine), Mr. Clive Smith (representing police - marine), Ms. Dawn Manderson (representing as float parade director), Mr. Derek Tibbetts (representing as chief float parade marshall), Mr. Fred Whittaker (representing as Security Director), Mr. Garth Ebanks (representing as chief float parade marshall), Mr. Gideon Simms (representing as DOEH liaison), Chief Inspector Harlon Powery (representing police - GT), Mr. Harry Lalli (representing marine and landing director), Mr. Jay Erhart (representing radio broadcast media and major sponsor Radio Cayman), Ms. Katie O’Niel (representing as event sponsor), Sergeant Kim Ramoon (representing as police - traffic), Mr. Ladner Watler (representing as marine director), Ms. Regina Oliver (representing as street dance director), Mr. Rick Glass (representing as Landing Committee Director), Ms. Rosa McLean (representing as Tourism Director and major sponsor Cayman Islands Department of Tourism), and Mrs. Teritia Peart (representing as press media and major sponsor Caymanian Compass).

The district cultural aspect had its big send off in 1978 with the North Side day staging what many at the time considered to be a great cultural heritage presentation at the North Side town hall. The late North Side legislature Mr. Cradoc Ebanks played a lead role in this inaugural event. East End, Bodden town, Savannah and Cayman Brac came on the scene back in 1979 with West Bay starting in 1980. It is great to note that some of the previous district chairmen are still with us today and are still somewhat involved including MLA Mr. Ezzard Miller, Mr. Buddy Wood, Mr. Trevor Watler and Mr. Jerry Harper. An honorable mention needs to be given to the longest serving District Chairman Mr. Alvin McLaughlin who has run and guarded the memorabilia of East End for many years.

The District Chairpeople for 2009 are Mr. Greg Anderson (Bodden Town), Mr. Alvin McLaughlin (East End), Mr Dale Ramoon (George Town), Mr. Mel McCoy (North Side), Mrs. Eziethamae Bodden (West Bay), Mrs. Heather Bodden (Savannah/ Newlands), Clive Samuels & Kerry Scott (Little Cayman), and Delia Hydes (Cayman Brac).

In the National Festival Office we have Ms. Pat Bazell-Taylor long standing Chief Administration Officer who we all dearly term as the ‘chief, cook, and bottle washer’. Ms. Janet Robinson who assists with coordinating the prize donations, food festival, children’s art competition, and sport events admin to name a few. Mr. Bernie Bush, deputy director who is responsible for the music and entertainment side of the event along with pre-landing, fireworks, and sponsorships.

“We have been truly blessed to have a dedicated group of people who are interested in keeping alive our culture, history, and heritage on this island. Along with our committee members we have had a sleuth of volunteers, sponsors, government departments, and many others who have shown great support for this official national festival. Without them it would not have been possible and we sincerely thank them all. And to my fabulous team, God is our guide and with him all things are possible – thanks for the long nights, early mornings, and great laughter,” stated Ms. Casandra Hibbert, National Festival Director.

1) Executive & District Committee Group1 posing in front of the Jolly Roger, back row (l-r): Garth Ebanks, Kim Ramoon, Rick Glass, Regina Oliver, Gregg Anderson, Brad Ebanks, Teritia Peart. (l-r front row): Northside Disrict Rep, Pat Bazell-Taylor, Anne Mason, Eziethamae Bodden, Casandra Hibbert, Bernie Bush

2) Executive & District Committee Group 2 posing in front of the Jolly Roger, back row (l-r): Alvin McLaughlin, Gideon Simms, Atanda LaForest, Ladner Watler, Harlon Powery, Bernie Bush. (l-r front row): Casandra Hibbert, Delia Hydes, Vernita Samuels(LYB rep), Katie O’Neil, Heather Bodden, and Dale Ramoon.

* Missing from the photos is Harry Lalli, Jay Erhart, Dawn Manderson, Derek Tibbetts, Fred Whittaker, and Rosa McLean.
ENDS

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject:

PRESS RELEASE:

Little Cayman still celebrated through Rain or Shine!

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – 9 November 2009: If you were not in Little Cayman this weekend, you definitely missed out.

As the saying goes, no one can party and have fun like our Sister Islands. And boy did they come out in large numbers. Even though the float parade was postponed to the public holiday on Monday due to bad weather on Saturday 7 November, locals from Grand and Little celebrated in style on Saturday night with tunes blazing from local DJ and mix master DJ Matrixx. As local resident, Courtney Morris nicely stated “Rain or shine, this is our day and we will celebrate!”

Starting with the CI$1,000 cash prize Domino Tournament, teams sat outside on Hungry Iguana’s porch and enjoyed a few good rounds with a great sea breeze blowing in and the rain drops making music to their ears. Winners of the tournament were local couple Mark and Sicbhan Scott.

A highlight for the weekend was the wedding that took place at the Little Cayman Beach Resort with famous steel pan player and teacher Earl La Pierre performing.

The Las Tortugas Pirates was also in full force as Captain Darwin and his crew provided great laughter and entertainment for all on island. This was a first for the crew and for Little Cayman who have never had visiting pirates before.

“Kerry Scott, Vaneta Samuels, Clive Samuels, and Christophel Stewart of the Little Cayman Committee did an excellent job in the planning of this event. They were quick to deal with the pending storm and revert to plan B ensuring communications were sent out. We would like to thank them for their hard work but also Little Cayman Beach Resort for providing my deputy and I with rooms over the weekend – for anyone that have not visited over in Little Cayman for awhile, the rooms at the Little Cayman Beach Resort are on par with the Ritz and the food was 5 star excellent quality and variety,” exclaimed Ms. Casandra Hibbert, Director for the National Festival, Pirates Week.

The Little Cayman Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their support: Digicel, Village Square, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Ministry of Tourism, Hungry Iguana Restaurant, My Way Resort Cottage, Hon. Juliana O’Connor Conolly, Graham Rankine of Cayman Firepower Displays, and District Administration.

Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject:

PRESS RELEASE:

National Festival is finally here!

George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands – 9 November 2009: After months of waiting, the Cayman Islands are beaming with excitement as the National Festival is finally here!

If you are really proud of country, your heritage, and your culture then we invite you to join us as we celebrate the National Festival of the Cayman Islands where our heritage and culture comes to life. The festival caters to the land lubbers, heritage seekers, food critics, party goers, and let’s not forget adventure seekers. Whatever your fancy, you will find it at this festival.

Spicing things up a little different this year, the National Festival will no longer have one band parading through all the districts singing the same songs – we have invited two different bands to entertain the country for the opening and the closing nights of the festival. The Bajan Invasion Band featuring hot soca industry names such as Nathalie, Mikey, Mr. Dale, and John Roett will be performing on the first weekend (as well as East End night) and Fab 5 Band will be performing on the last weekend.

“The Bajan Invasion Band” consists of four different artists playing on the same stage. The group each has widely known hit songs in the Caribbean and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. John Roett is the Musical Director for The Bajan Invasion Band and has appeared in Grand Cayman on numerous occasions with groups such as The Merrymen, Spice and Company, and international recording star Maxi Priest. Natalie “Natahlee” Burke broke into the soca arena with her chant on Coalishun’s Thundah. She is also known for hit songs Weakness for Sweetness, Ah Gotta Dance, Colours, and What We Do. Mikey exploded onto the local entertainment scene with the self-penned song “Come Together” and is famous for the following songs; “Dat Time Again”, “Show Me Now”, “Hold One”, “Belong To We”, “Clear”, “My Time”; “C.L.A.P”, “More”, “Bashment Bacchanal”, “Explosion”, “Can’t Stop De Party” and the addictive “We Luv It”. Mr. Dale entered the soca arena in 1998 with a bang when he recorded the hit single “Kaylaylay”, which dominated the number one spot on all local radio stations. He has penned some of the season’s biggest hits including Mikey’s “ I In Dat” Natahlee’s “ What we Do” Kim Derrick’s “Passion” and Mr. Dale’s “Come Out” to name a few. His other monster hit was “Soka Junkie”.

On the final Saturday 21 November, there is a windup street dance hosted by International band Fab 5 back in town by the harbor, ending at midnight. Fab 5, is one Jamaica's pre eminent popular bands and have enjoyed an endless succession of hits in Jamaica and the "ethnic" markets of North America. More recently, they have been kept on top by the likes of "Yu Safe", "Ring Road Jam", "Feeling Horny", "Computer Mad", "What The Police High Command Can Do", "Jamaican Woman", "Psalms", "All Night Party", "Mini", "Sweat", "Don't Wear None", "Freeze", "Good Buddy", "Mango" and their “Live” series. Their soca smash "Shape" is still very popular and the band’s versatility is proved by “Dugu-Dugu” their all-reggae release and the preceding all-ska album “Ska Time”. The band comprises three 1970 foundation members manager Frankie Campbell (bass); Harold (Jr) Bailey (guitar, flute and saxophone now part-time and overseas sound engineer) and; musical director Grub Cooper (drums and lead vocals), - Sidney Thorpe (keyboards), 1979; Donovan Lee Palmer (Keyboards), 1991; Romeo Gray (trombone) and Glenroy Samuels (guitar) both 1995 and Andre Palmer (Trumpet) 2006.

On the weekends local bands and DJ’s that will be a highlight of the show include Thanks & Praises, Regeneration, Los Tropicanos, Bona Fide, Super C, DJ Alex, and DJ Flex.

Throughout the week International and local bands will be the highlight of the district days with The Bajan Invasion Band, DJ Legend Force, and local bands in East End on Monday 16 November. West Fete taking place in West Bay on Tuesday 18 November with International artist Oscar B along with local bands Thanks & Praises, Local Motion 345, Super C, Rollaz International, and Don One. On Wednesday 19 November North Side will be celebrating with local bands Musical Crew, and special appearances by Johnathan Ebanks and Mel McCoy. Bodden Town on Thursday 19 November will be hosting a great group of local artists and DJ’s. George Town has scheduled a big night with world renown soca artist Shurwayne Winchester and local bands at the Royal Watler Terminal on Friday 20th November. Rounding off the Grand Cayman Heritage Days, Savannah/ Newlands will have the Gordon Solomon local band performing.

Here is a copy of the event schedule for the festival (current as of 9 November):
32nd ANNUAL PIRATES WEEK NATIONAL FESTIVAL

LATEST Schedule of Events:

THURSDAY, 12 November 5.30pm – 9.00pm Pre-Pirates Week Happy Hour at Breezes by the Bay
9.00pm Pre-Pirates Week Kick-off Party at The Wharf

FRIDAY, 13 November
4.30pm Registration Pirates Week 5K Run sponsored by Ministry of Sports
5:00pm Pirates Week 5K Run start (Bayshore Mall)
6.00pm Pirate Costume Competition, Goring Avenue Stage sponsored by Home Gas
6.50pm Miss Festival Queen Costume Competition, Goring Ave sponsored by Ministry of Culture
7.30pm Fireworks, Harbour Drive sponsored by Atlantic Star & Ministry of Sports
8:00pm National Song competition, Goring Ave Stage sponsored by Digicel
9.00pm-2.00am Street Dance & Food Festival, Harbour Drive/Shedden Road

SATURDAY, 14 November 8.00am 5K Sea Swim (Governor’s Beach)
2.00pm Pre-Landing Entertainment, Harbour Drive sponsored by Ministry of Culture
3.00pm Landing Pageant at Hog Sty Bay followed by a Float Parade
7.00pm-Midnight Street Dance & Food Festival, Harbour Drive/Shedden Road
7.00pm-Midnight Teen Up, Teen Disco sponsored by Bodden Beverages/ Pepsi–
Craft Market Cayman Craft Market

SUNDAY, 15 November 11.00am-6.00pm Starvin’ Artists Exhibition – Mitzis Gallery, West Bay Road
1.00pm-4.00pm Children’s Fun Fair Day – sponsored by Progressive Distributers/
Cayman 27 at The Crescent in Camana Bay
1.00pm-4.00pm Underwater Treasure Hunt at Dive Tech – West Bay

MONDAY, 16 November 11.00am-2.00am East End Heritage Day (Heritage Field)

TUESDAY, 17 November 11.00am-2.00am West Bay Heritage Day (Cayman Turtle Farm)
5.00pm Turtle Release – Seven Mile Public Beach

WEDNESDAY, 18 November 11.00am-2.00am North Side Heritage Day (Water Key Public Park – next to Kaibo)
3.30pm-8.00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet – Lions Pool

THURSDAY, 19 November 11:00am-2.00am Bodden Town Heritage Day (Coe Wood Beach)

FRIDAY, 20 November 1.00am-2.00am George Town Heritage Day (Cardinal Avenue/ Royal Watler Terminal)
4.00pm-8.00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet – Lions Pool
700pm Steel Band Competition – Cardinal Ave, sponsored by Motor & General and Scotia Bank

SATURDAY, 21 November 8.00am-5.00pm Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet – Lions Pool
11.00am-6.00pm Savannah/Newlands Heritage Day (Savannah Playfield)
12.00pm Set up Cardboard Boat Race, Hog Sty Bay
4.00pm Cardboard Boat Race, Hog Sty Bay sponsored by Caybrew
7.30pm Trial of the Pirates, Harbour Drive
7.50pm Fireworks, Harbour Drive
8.00pm-Midnight Street Dance Finale & Food Festival – Harbour Drive/Shedden Road
8.00pm-Midnight Teen Up. Teen Disco sponsored by Top Taste Restaurant –
Cayman Craft Market
SUNDAY, 22 November 7.00am Pirates Week 10K Run sponsored by Krys & Associates (West Bay Road by Plantana)
8.00am Mike Lockwood Memorial International Swim Meet Cont'd., Lions Pool
1.00pm Mickey Mouse Darts Tournament – The Corner Pocket,
sponsored by Budweiser
27 -28 November Cayman Brac Weekend, Watering Place

National Festival Director, Casandra Hibbert commented “It is finally here! Locals and visitors alike can finally celebrate the official National Festival. Come out and enjoy the fireworks with your family, sample the delicious food that will be on sale, immerse into the Caymanian culture and heritage during the district days, shake a leg or two if you wish. This is your time Cayman so come on out and celebrate!”

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