Bonaire Island Events for 2005

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 2005 Carnival season will open in January, with the Main Adult Parade in Kralendijk held on February 6, and the culmination of all Carnival events, the Grand Farewell Parade with the Burning of King Momo will take place on February 8. 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 1 – 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. This day is also the Queen’s Birthday. To celebrate both there will be a windsurfing race, 5 km/17 km run and a 70 km road race.



May 22 – 29 – King of the Caribbean Freestyle Pro-Am – Bonaire has been tapped to host the Professional Windsurfing Association’s (PWA) inaugural event for 2005. As one of the first events of the 2005 PWA calendar year, the King of the Caribbean (KOTCaribbean) will undoubtedly attract a strong entry list with entrants looking to make an early mark on the Freestyle rankings. The event will also be the first opportunity for the world to see what’s hot and what’s not after a winter of training and development. More than forty top windsurfers from around the world, including many from the Bonaire windsurfing team, are expected to compete in the week-long event at Bonaire’s Lac Bay, for a $65,000 purse ($55,000 for men, $10,000 for women). The KOTCaribbean is organized by the Bonaire Sailing Foundation (BSaF) in conjunction with the PWA.



July – 13th ANNUAL BONAIRE ARTS DAY – Put on by the Bonaire Art Foundation, “Fundashon pa Arte i Kultura di Bonaire,” since 1993, this event also known as the Dia di Art, Bonaire Arts day gives artists the opportunity to showcase their handmade arts, crafts, as well as local music and dance. Initiated to promote local artists to the Bonaire community, the event will take place from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM at Wilhelmina Park.



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. As part of the celebrations a 5 km Bonaire Day Fun Run will also take place.



October – BONAIRE INTERNATIONAL SAILING REGATTA – The 38th Annual Bonaire International Sailing Regatta will welcome 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 and sunfish participate in the island's largest sailing races. Highlights of the event include nightly parties, the All Nations Parade, the Working Boats Parade and an awards ceremony.



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.





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.



 

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