News
Coco Fest 2022 Draw Large Crowd
Although a smaller turn out than in previous years, Coco Fest at Pedro St. James held on Saturday 26th February, was a buzz of locals and visitors to the island with just over 1500 people attending the six-hour event.
“That’s almost 300 people less than last year but our team believes it was still very successful. We were fortunate to benefit from the recent relaxation of the COVID-19 protocols which increased the numbers of persons able to gather outdoors to 1000, up from 500 previously,” said Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) Marketing Coordinator, Mona Lisa Meade.
Pedro St. James is pleased to note the fundraising effort brought in just over CI$14,000, proving that Coco Fest has become a popular occasion on the Cayman Islands annual calendar of events.
“The additional funds raised can be attributed to the increase in entry fee for adults from CI$5 to $10, event t-shirt sales and our multiple raffle drawings,” said TAB Director, Patrick Thompson.
“We are once again grateful to our sponsors who continue to support the event with in-kind services or monetary assistance, which ultimately allows us to meet our goals of hosting a forum to promote local products and raising funds toward preservation of the National Historic Site, at Pedro,” added Mr. Thompson.
Over the past four years, Fidelity Bank (Cayman) Ltd. has sponsored the event, the bank takes pride in supporting events that reach a wide cross section of the public.
“Fidelity is once again happy to be the lead sponsor of the 2022 Coco Fest. We believe in playing our part in the community,” said Fidelity Bank Senior Business Analyst, Linval Johnson.
Coco Fest hosted 30 vendors highlighting their homemade desserts, skin and beauty products, paintings, jewellery. Local cooks supplied traditional food such as turtle meat, stewed conch, salt beef rundown, fish and fritters and many other delightful local dishes all cooked with coconut oil or containing coconut milk, a staple in the Caymanian diet.
Mrs. Meade expressed delight in welcoming tourists back to Coco Fest. “We are confident visitors were able to experience a little piece of Cayman; from our traditional food to the many wonderful coconut treats, health products and all the amazing arts and crafts that were on sale,” she said.
Music was provided by Riddim Posse, Hi Tide, Pan N Riddim Steel Band and supported by Sound Solutions and One World Entertainment and Radio Cayman’s Kathy Miller added excitement to Coco Fest as the event’s host.
Coco Fest brings together local cooks, craftsmen, producers, artisans, and farmers through a shared love for the Cayman coconut, in a fun and interactive environment with Pedro St. James, through Coco Fest, providing an avenue for local small and micro-businesses to showcase their coconut-inspired products.
For more information, please email admin@pedrostjames.ky or call 947-3329.
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