Plans for a revised October Sunday were unveiled at a news conference at Bluebeard's Castle Hotel when Fred Watts, one of the founders of the event, announced an updated festival is planned for 1999.
"This has been our signature fund-raiser for 23 years," said Watts.
"This year we are changing our approach to the traditional October Sunday fund-raiser to give the event more exposure and make it appealing to a broader audience by blending tradition with culture and cuisine."
While the name remains the same, the festival has been organized to be a bit "spicier" by adding Cajun Gon' Caribbean, a friendly competition among restaurants and hotels on St. Thomas to vie for the title of Best Cajun Food.
After judging for the best, the food will be donated to The Virgin Islands Institute of Performing Arts to be sold to the public.
The event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24, in Frenchtown and will feature hours of music by some of the top entertainers on the island.
More than a dozen entertainers are already committed, including Nicky Russell, Rob W. Paper, Blue Shoes, Public Nuisance, Harmony Dem and the Antilles Steel Hurricanes.
Also tapped for an appearance is Charivari, a traditional down-home Cajun band from Louisiana. The group performs waltzes, two-steps, fiddle tunes and Creole songs from all the old masters as well as their own compositions.
The presenting sponsor is Sprint. Associate sponsors include Bluebeard's Castle & Beach Resorts, the Committee for the Betterment of Carneage, American Airlines, Avis Rent-a-Car, Coca-Cola, VitelCellular, V.I. Power Net, WVWI/JAMZ/KISS and MSI.
Net proceeds from the event will benefit the Virgin Islands Institute for the Performing Arts to expand programs. Each of the more than 30 non-profit groups with booths at the event will be raising money for their charities as well.
