The 20th annual Bordeaux Farmers Rastafari Agricultural and Cultural Vegan Food Fair returns Saturday and Sunday to St. Thomas for a weekend full of local produce, prepared vegan foods, music, cooking workshops and youth activities.
Held on the grounds of the Bordeaux Farmers Market on St. Thomas’s West End, visitors can expect to see traditional Bamboula dancing, drumming and reggae music throughout the day in addition to bountiful stands of produce and healthy prepared foods. (See Full List of Events Below)
The fair is organized by the Bordeaux Farmers Collective We Grow Food Inc., whose members believe that, "To lose agriculture is to lose our culture, integrity, self-worth and pride. Without these characteristics, we as a people fail to exist."
Vegan food such as tofu, rice and beans, veggie burgers, raw dishes and fruit desserts will be available, and local farmers will sell all kinds of produce, including carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, soursop, passion fruit, mangos, bananas and pumpkin, as well as locally made seasonings.
This year’s fair will honor Daniel “Ras Nashamba I” Crabbe as this year’s Bordeaux Farmer of the Year. Ras Nashamba I farms a small plot of land near the fairgrounds where he grows tropical fruits and vegetables.
Known as an “ital dubmaster,” Ras Nashamba I’s flavorful vegan stews and cakes are one of the most popular prepared foods at the Saturday morning market that’s held at Market Square on St. Thomas. His patrons know to lineup early, since he always sells out.
The fair’s music and activities are family friendly with Vicky’s Youth Activity Center featuring make-and-take art projects for children of all ages.
For those looking for more hands-on activities, there will be instructions in broom making, coconut shell and calabash art and wood carving, as well as farm tours to nearby farms, so visitors can see firsthand where the on-sale produce comes from and how it’s farmed.
The fair runs from 10 a.m. until midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Entry cost for adults is $3 and seniors, military with ID and youths 13 to 18 years of age is $2.
Public transportation will be available. VITRAN buses will leave the hospital at 9:30 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and make all the regular stops. When the 6:30 p.m. bus arrives at the fair, the last return bus will leave.
The V.I. Department of Agriculture is providing free safari taxi rides from the front of Niksy Center to the fair as well. There will be four departure times each day at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with return trips from Bordeaux at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day.
Sponsors of the event include the V.I. Department of Health, V.I. Department of Tourism, V.I. Small Business Development Center and the V.I. Department of Agriculture.
Saturday Music and Speaker Program
– 10 a.m. – 11:00, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 11 – 11:10, Opening Blessings/Rastafari Creed
– 11:10 – 11:20, WGFI President Sparks
– 11:20 – 11:35, Ras Nashamba I, Farmer of the Year
– 11:40 – 12:40 p.m, Rising Stars Steel Pan
– 12:30, Farm Tours
– 12:40 – 12:55, Billy Abraham, Marketing Director, Department of Agriculture
– 12:55 – 1:10, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 1 p.m., Composting & Gardening
– 1:10 – 1:50, Wachanga Drummers
– 1:50 – 2:15, Mighty Groover
– 2:15 – 2:35, Ras Bobby The Herbalist
– 2:35 – 3, Konyah’s Poetry Korner
– 3 – 3:20, Mungo Nile Dancers
– 3:20 – 3:40, Africultural Fashion Show (crochet style)
– 3:40 – 3:50, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 3:50 – 4, Isis (Violinist)
– 4 – 4:10, Queens of the Earth Princesses
– 4:10 – 4:30, Tanama
– 4:30 – 5, Caribbean Queen
– 5 – 5:45, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 5:45 – 6:45, Haile Israel
– 6:45 – 7, Lion Youth
– 7:00 – 7:15, FlamesBoy Flames
– 7:15 – 7:30, Empress Dahlia
– 7:30 – 7:45, Nathaniel Akaya
– 7:45 – 8, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 8:00 – 8:15, Empress Karisma
– 8:15 – 8:35, Miko
– 8:35 – 8:55, Exodus
– 8:55 – 9:25, Jah Sekemnah
– 9:25 – 9:40, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 9:40, JahMan
Saturday Activities
– 10 – 6 p.m., Vicky Palmer Youth and Family Activity Center, planting, clay art, frame art, coloring, jewelry making and face painting stations
– 11 – noon, Fight the Bite, Public Health Tips for Youths with the Dept. of Health
– 2 – 6 p.m. Social Media "Ask an Expert" Consultations Available with Dara Monifah Cooper, University of the Virgin Islands
– 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Batik Art with the Cooperative Extension Service (CES)
– 12:30 – 2 p.m., Turn Your Trash Into Treasure; Crafting Fun and Recycling with The League of Women Voters
– 1 – 2:30 p.m., Make n Take Broom Making Studio at Mr. Todman’s booth
– 2:30 – 4 p.m., Honoring the Spirit of Indi Genius Creativity; Pouch Making Utilizing Calabash and Locust Seed Pods with Ras Ital
– 4:30 – 6 p.m. Leather Crafts with Asafo Leather Club
Sunday Music and Speaker Program
– 10 a.m. – 11:00, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 11 – 11:10, Opening Blessings/Rastafari Creed
– 11:10 – 11:20, WGFI Vice President Imani
– 11:20 – 11:40, Hydroponics Presentation
– 11:40 – 11:55, WAPA/Energy
– 11:55 – 12:10, p.m., Carlos Robles, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
– 12:10 – 12:20, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 12:20 – 12:50, Zumba Presentation
– 12:30, Farm Tours
– 12:50 – 1:10, Allen Haynes (The Rub Man)
– 1 p.m., Composting & Gardening
– 1:10 – 1:25, Ulla Muller Dancers
– 1:25 – 1:45, Cleo (Mind, Body, Spirit Present)
– 1:45 – 2:15, Konyah’s Poetry Korner
– 2:15 – 2:35, Africultural Fashion Show
– 2:35 – 3:15, Echo People
– 3:15 – 3:25, Bambula Dancers
– 3:25 – 3:40, Communitiy Africultural Dancers
– 3:40 – 4:40, Pan Roun de Neck
– 4:40 – 5, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 5 – 6, Unity Band
– 6 – 7:15, Jah SoulJah Band
– 7:15 – 7:30, Raggamuffin
– 7:30 – 7:50, Ambassadah 7
– 7:45 – 8:15, Ganjenero
– 8:10 – 8:20, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 8:20 – 8:40, Simplicity
– 8:40 – 9:10, Empress I
– 9:10 – 9:50, Empress Ruth
– 9:50 – 10, DJ Dilli Fingas
– 10 p.m., Ickarus
Sunday Activities
– 10 – 6 p.m., Vicky Palmer Youth and Family Activity Center, planting, clay art, frame art, coloring, jewelry making and face painting stations
– 11 – 12:30 p.m., Garden Crafts with The Art Exchange
– 1 – 2:30 p.m., Crochet for Beginners with Montez Teferi
– 1 – 2:30 p.m., Make n Take Broom Making Studio at Mr. Todman’s booth
– 2:30 – 3:30 p.m., Fine Artist/WoodWorker Talk @ Afreekan Southwell booth
– 3:30 – 4 p.m., West African Bantaba Drum Circle with Dembaya Arts Conservatory Facilitated by Kaisha L Arnold
