Arts & Culture

San Pedro Town has proven to be a community of extraordinary individuals excelling in disciplines such as education, entrepreneurship, and sports, to name a few. Another area of excellence is music and performing arts. This talent was tested over the April 1st weekend when the San Pedro High School (SPHS) and the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School (SPRC) participated in the Belize Band Fest 2023 held in the northern mainland town of Orange Walk. The SPHS marching band did not only impress but returned home with the recognition for the Best Leader/Director (Richard Pitts) and second place in the drum corps category.

With the mission to continue stimulating the local economy on the island, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) organized a market day for local artists at Central Park. The event saw several booths displaying paintings, carvings, jewellery, souvenirs, and other crafts. It was a success, and organizers hope to hold the event again soon.

U.S. Ambassador Michelle Kwan joined Minister of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology Hon. Francis Fonseca for the opening ceremony of the Lamanai Conservation and Preservation Project held on March 18th at the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve. The project will enable the conservation and preservation of the High Temple, Mask Temple, ball court plaza, and other ancient structures at Lamanai, one of Belize’s most frequently visited Mayan archaeological sites. This project was made possible by an Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant worth USD $177,188 to the Institute of Archaeology at National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology.

It was three fun days at this year's El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro. The traditional festivity was a grand success and delighted thousands of islanders and visitors. The celebration was full of painting, parties, and comparsas (street dances) presentations. This year, two comparsa groups (Ms. Flora Ancona and Las Barbies) took to the streets of downtown San Pedro to add to the celebration and impress the judges for the coveted title of best comparsas.

One of the most popular annual island celebrations, El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro, is currently taking place on the island, invading the main streets of downtown with a colorful jamboree filled with paint and popular street dances known as Comparsas. The festivities started on Saturday, February 18th, with a market day and cocktail competition at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Arena. The event saw several booths showcasing local products and food for purchase. Those in attendance enjoyed a fun evening with their loved ones while visiting and consuming the products from the participating vendors.

The anticipated traditional island celebration, el Gran Carnaval de San Pedro, is taking place this weekend starting tomorrow, Saturday, February 18th, with a market day, musical entertainment, and bartending competition at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex. The fun continues from Sunday through Tuesday with paint and powder parties by the central park and the famous comparsas (street dances) on the main streets of downtown.

The traditional island celebration, ‘El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro,’ takes place February 18th through the 21st, with big parties, street dances (comparsas), and painting. The annual celebration will also include a Carnaval market day at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex, where events like a cocktail competition will be held.

The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) through the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, in collaboration with the Belize Archives and Records Service, the Belize National Library Service and Information System, the George Price Centre for Peace and Development and the University of Belize, is pleased to announce the launch of the ‘Let Belize Live: Speeches from the Premier’ Exhibit.