The 2024 Torchlight Parade and Tramp lit up the streets of Tortola on Monday evening, with residents donning white attire to celebrate the start of the 70th Emancipation Festival.
The event, steeped in tradition and cultural significance, drew a vibrant crowd that paraded and danced to the lively fungi music of the Zion Sounds band.
This year’s parade, often referred to as the Torch Light Procession, featured an all-white dress theme, symbolizing unity and festivity. The procession began at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, continuing along the Sir Francis Drake Highway and culminating at the Festival Grounds, in the heart of Rena’s Festiville.
Among the participants were royalty from recent pageants and dignitaries from the Virgin Islands Government.
Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr. the Honourable Karl Dawson, emphasized the importance of the torchlight procession in preserving the essence of BVI culture, noting that such traditions keep the history and spirit of the territory alive.
Deputy Premier, Honourable Lorna Smith, shared her personal reflections on past torchlight processions, highlighting the event’s enduring role in the community’s celebration of freedom and heritage.
Junior Minister for Tourism and the Representative for the Fourth District, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith, provided a historical overview of the BVI’s Emancipation Festival, drawing connections to the rich culture and traditions of her district.