🏴‍☠️ Pirates Week Festival in Cayman Islands returns to traditional format

The annual Pirates Week Festival in the Cayman Islands is reverting to its traditional format this year. After several years of experimenting with different formats, the festival will span three weeks across all three islands, with full heritage days in each district. The 2024 festival, kicking off on 8 November with the theme “Setting Sail Through Time”, aims to mark the milestones achieved since the first Pirates Week Festival in 1977. The event is seen as strategically important by the government, embodying local culture and aligning with the UPM policies. 🏝️

Despite the return to traditional format, there is currently no agenda for the event, and no website associated with it. Information for potential visitors is scarce on social media pages. The festival, originally designed to attract tourists during the low season, will be overseen by an eight-member steering committee made up of representatives from government agencies and departments. Festival Director Patrice Beersingh emphasized that Pirates Week is more than just a festival, but a celebration of the unique contributions of the Caymanians to the world. 🌍

The theme of the festival, “Setting Sail Through Time”, invites the community to embark on a journey that honours the past while charting a course for the future. The aim is to ensure that Pirates Week Festival remains a cultural legacy that strengthens community bonds. Culture Minister Dwayne Seymour thanked government leaders for their support and commitment to celebrating and preserving Caymanian culture. The festival is seen as a significant collaborative effort that fosters a sense of national pride and unity. 🎊