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Press Release BONAIRE
2002 CALENDAR BRIEFS January - February - CARNIVAL - One of the most anticipated events of the year, during Carnival Bonaireans are encouraged to be as creative as possible. Colorful costumes, parades, song and traditional dances are important parts of Carnival festivities and everyone is invited to let their spirits run free. Contests for "Queen of Carnival" as well as best costume, singer, band and creativity are held while onlookers vote for their favorites. In 2002 the Carnival's Main Parade in Kralendijk will take place on February 10th, and the culmination of all Carnival events, the grand finale of Carnival, the Burning of King Momo, will take place on February 12th. Accompanied by fireworks and a parade, the Burning of King Momo symbolizes the end of the Carnival period and the conclusion to a month of continuous celebrations. April - SIMADAN (HARVEST) FESTIVAL IN RINCON - The Simadan Festival or Harvest Feast symbolizes a time when the Kunuku (farm) owners invite their friends to help collect the crop. Accompanied by songs and hand made instruments, the cutting of the maize (corn) begins. The songs and dance that accompany Simadan are still carried out in Rincon, Bonaire's oldest town, where on this day Bonaireans dress is colorful outfits and perform traditional dances. Local arts, crafts and cuisine are also available during the Simadan Festival, which has become an important cultural tradition in Bonaire. April 30 - RINCON DAY - Established in 1989 by FUDEKU, an organization founded to reintroduce Bonaire's youth to its rich history, this holiday, which falls on the Queens Birthday, celebrates the traditions and culture of Bonaire in the island's oldest village. This day is filled with food and drink, music and local crafts. In the weeks preceding this day, a local song festival is held with the winner performing on Rincon Day during the day's events. The highlight of the festivities is an official speech marking the opening of Rincon Day, which has traditionally been made by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles in the village's historic church. June 15 - 22 - SIXTH ANNUAL BONAIRE DIVE FESTIVAL - Celebrating its sixth year, the 2002 Bonaire Dive Festival is expected to attract divers and snorkelers from around the world. With the goal to raise people's awareness of the importance of protecting the world's coral reefs through education and fun, and give people the unique opportunity to interact one-on-one with leaders in marine conservation, this week long event will feature numerous participatory/educational activities and dives, directed by local and international experts from the diving, conservation and environmental preservation fields. Both Bonaire's international visitors and local community are invited to participate in these seminars and events that will focus on how to conserve and sustainably use the coral reefs and related eco-systems. August - ANNUAL COPA CULTIMARA SAILING RACE - The longest running windsurfing race in Bonaire, the Copa Cultimara, in its 15th year, is held each year at Lac Bay where constant tradewinds make for ideal windsurfing conditions. An event traditionally for the whole family, moms, dads, aunts and cousins are sure to be seen cheering on other family members and friends who compete in this annual competition. September 6 - BONAIRE DAY (DIA DI BONAIRE) - Bonaire Day, which commemorates Amerigo Vespucci's arrival in Bonaire in 1499, includes activities held at Wilhelmina Park in Kralendijk, Bonaire's capital city, and around the island. Celebrating the Bonairean people and their history, on this legal holiday visitors and local residents gather in the Park to enjoy folkloric dancing, music, art and local food. Throughout the day local dignitaries from the government and the community address the participants with stories of the Bonairean people and history. October 6 - 12 - BONAIRE INTERNATIONAL SAILING REGATTA - The 35th Annual Bonaire International Sailing Regatta welcomes boats in 12 different categories to participate in this Bonairean tradition that attracts sailors from all of the surrounding islands as well as Venezuela, Holland and the U.S. Each year approximately 120 boats from catamarans and yachts to windsurfers participate in the island's largest sailing races. What started as a race between Captain Don Stewart's fishing-sloop "Sislin" and Hubert Domacasse's "Vella" over a case of beer has turned into Bonaire's most popular annual event. December 1 - BARI FESTIVAL - Song, dance, drink and the traditional Beating of the Drums (Bari) are the highlights of this celebration, which recounts the year's happenings. One special feature, distinct to the Bari Festival is the "Tambu." The Tambu is a dance consisting of four time dances in two parts and is accompanied by songs in a question and answer style satirizing local events. Also part of the celebration are presentations by church choirs and independent organizations as well as a hot "Bari" which takes place in Rincon. December is the month to celebrate and the Bari Festival is a wonderful chance to experience the colorful culture of Bonaire in a unique and very entertaining fashion. December 5 - SINTERKLAAS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - Only celebrated in the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands, Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), which originated in Holland, has become a day children look forward to every year. A tall elderly man dressed in red, Sinterklaas rides a white horse and is accompanied by zwarte pieten (servants). As tradition has it, Sinterklaas visits only once a year bringing presents to all the children who have been well behaved. In order to receive a present, which all children do, on December 4th children fill one of their shoes with grass for Sinterklaas' white horse; the next morning they awake to find an empty shoe and a present. Monthly Events - Each month in Bonaire there are 5 km runs and mountain bike races, and on the first weekend of each month Rincon Market Day is held to showcase and sell local foods and crafts. Located 86 miles east of Aruba and well outside the hurricane belt, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round sunshine and calm weather, low annual rainfall, pristine coral formations and the most thriving fish population in the Caribbean. Ideal for adventurers, explorers and sun-worshippers alike, Bonaire offers myriad eco-adventure activities including world renowned scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking, bird watching, sailing and deep sea and bone fishing. And with a selection of accommodations ranging from full-service oceanfront resorts and condominiums to guesthouses and small inns, Bonaire has something for every lifestyle and budget. For more information on Bonaire or any of these special events contact the Tourism Corporation Bonaire at 1-800-BONAIRE. # # # |
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