Organizers are anticipating another massive Vincy Day USA Picnic on Saturday at the picturesque Heckscher State Park in East Islip.
Vincy Day USA, Inc., the Brooklyn-based Vincy Day Organizing Committee, said on Monday that the much-anticipated annual gathering “brings together the Vincentian community for a day filled with culture, camaraderie and celebration,” stating that the “the lush landscapes” at Heckscher State Park will “provide the perfect backdrop for a day of festivities.
“Vincy Day is more than just an event; it’s a heartfelt gathering where Vincentians from all walks of life unite to honour their heritage, share experiences and embrace the spirit of community,” the group said. “With a picturesque park as a backdrop, attendees enjoy a variety of activities that showcase the rich cultural traditions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while also enjoying a day of relaxation and enjoyment.”
The Organizing Committee said the festivities, as always, will kick off with “a lively picnic, featuring an array of traditional Vincentian dishes and local specialties that will tantalize the taste buds.
“Families are encouraged to bring their favorite dishes to share, fostering a spirit of community and togetherness that is at the heart of Vincentian culture,” it said, adding that the highlight of the day will be “a spectacular concert showcasing a lineup of talented Vincentian artists.
“Attendees can look forward to performances filled with infectious rhythms, vibrant melodies and cultural expressions that will surely get everyone on their feet,” the committee said. “With a mix of calypso, soca, gospel, poetry and reggae, the concert will be an unforgettable experience celebrating the sounds of the sweet SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines).”
Raymond Otis Lewis, chair of Vincy Day USA, Inc., told Caribbean Life that the 12th Annual Vincy Day, which is usually held on the third Saturday in August, is “a beautiful celebration of our culture and community.
“We invite everyone to come out and join us, as we celebrate our heritage, strengthen our bonds and create unforgettable memories together,” he urged.
Last year, in picture-perfect weather, thousands of Vincentians across the United States converged on the Camp Grounds at Heckscher State Park for the spectacular event.
Other Caribbean nationals even joined Vincentians, trekking from as far as Canada, among other places, to participate in and to meet and greet relatives and friends at the 1,657-acre (6.71 km2) state park on the shore of the Great South Bay in Suffolk County.
The day-long event usually features a kaleidoscope of colors – including the Vincentian national colors, green, gold (yellow) and blue – a potpourri of Vincy dishes; and Vincentian and Caribbean music, gospel and soca inclusive.
Last year, among others, Brooklynite Alyssa Seales played the steelpan; masqueraders from Mas Productions Unlimited, the lone Vincy mas band in New York, displayed costumes for the gigantic West Indian-American Day Labor Day Parade on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway; and calypsonians Delahante Isles and Dennis Bowman – representing the Brooklyn-based, Vincentian-owned Dynamite Calypso Tent, the lone Vincentian Calypso Tent in North America – re-energized the crowd with hits from their selections in the Vincy Mas Calypso Competition.
The newly-formed, Brooklyn-based Magma Band, headed by Vincentian musical arranger and keyboardist Adrian Bailey, made its Picnic debut, backing up most of the soca artistes and otherwise providing enthralling entertainment to the huge party crowd.
Delroy “Fireman” Hooper, the perennial Vincentian Soca Monarch and last year’s Road March King in Vincy Mas, also made his maiden Picnic performance, holding party animals in a frenzy with selections from his wide repertoire, bringing the Day down at the sprawling park.
In the Soca Monarch Competition in Vincy Mas 2024, Hooper was crowned Soca Monarch for the 13th time.
Hooper, who first won the national Soca Monarch title in 1999, won the crown from 23 attempts, according to the national radio station, NBC SVG.
“We encourage all Vincentians and friends to come together for this joyous occasion,” Vincy Day Organizing Committee said. “Join us in celebrating our rich heritage and community spirit at Vincy Day 2024.
“We look forward to seeing you there,” it added. “Vincy Day is not just an event; it is a communion.”
