The V.I.C.A. Festival originally named the V.I. FESTIVAL will be held on Saturday, October 8 from 12:00PM to 10PM (ET) at the Miramar Regional Park. This year the festival
has been renamed to make it more inclusive to the over 3,000+ guests which attend annually. The new name, V.I. Caribbean American Festival and Reunion, celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of the Caribbean region.
The city of Miramar will celebrate diversity on Columbus weekend through the lens of Caribbean community. On Saturday, October 8, 2011, the Annual Virgin Islands Caribbean American Festival and Reunion will be held at the Miramar Regional Park. Event spokesperson Vernon Brooks states sixteen years ago, the Mocko Jumbie Stilt Dancers held the first event in order to raise money to support their community cultural youth events.
Stilt dancing first arrived in the Caribbean from Ghana West Africa, during slavery. As a funeral ritual, stilt dancers would be completely covered in order to imitate the spirits. Stilt dancing is now commercialized in festivals states Brooks. While introduced to stilt walking at a young age in St. Thomas (VI), Brooks says it wasnt until he attended Lincoln College that his roommate invited him to become a part of the Mocko Jumbie Stilt Dancers.
Sixteen years later, the Annual Virgin Islands Caribbean American Festival and Reunion includes Kids Corner hosted by the Police Athletic League of Miramar, Car Show, and Tournament Basketball with teams from the entire Eastern sea board. From Caribbean food vendors to honoring Caribbean community members, the day will include local and Caribbean entertainment. Tickets are $20 and a small parking fee. . CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!
For additional information about the VICA Festival contact Vernon Brooks 786-285-5728, http://www.vifest.com For information contact Caribbean Media Network at 404-455-2944, www.caribemedianetwork.com
