For art lovers and shoppers alike, there was recently a great event in the British Virgin Islands this March.  On March 9th, Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester was on hand on Tortola to officially open the 8th annual Caribbean Arts and Crafts Festival.

The annual art show is hosted by the Caribbean Artisan Network, and was held this year at Tortola’s Trellis Bay Village.

On display and for sale were works by local artists and crafts people from all around the region. From copper works to colorful paintings, from jewelry to straw baskets, all the lovely local crafts of the Caribbean islands were on display, hand made by artists from all over the region. The theme of this year’s festival was using natural resources to preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the islands.

On March 9th, the Duke of Gloucester opened the festival, and there was also a local wine tasting.  On the 10th and 11th, artisan displays opened at 10am and there was a free Farmer’s Market on the grounds. There were also demonstrations by local craftsmen, and live entertainment well into the evening.

There were also awards handed out for most creative display, best traditional craft, most innovative new craft, and best young artisan.

March 12th was officially designated as Virgin Island Culture Day, and there were presentations on how to bake with cassava.  On March 13th, the artisan displays moved to the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbor, and on the 14th, displays were set up in Noel Lloyd Positive Action Park in Road Town on Tortola.  On March 15th, the crafts were on display at the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda.

There are many wonderful Tortola villas and great choices for a villa Virgin Gorda.  So, if you love art and the unique beauty of local crafts, consider booking British Virgin Island holidays on either island for next year’s March Break, so you can be in the very heart of the Caribbean cultural scene.