Gerry Badillo

San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye joined other countries in the region to celebrate the annual carnival season with the highly anticipated "El Carnaval de San Pedro!" This traditional celebration, beloved by islanders and visitors, kicked off on March 1st with a vibrant parade that concluded with a spectacular show at the central park.

In September, Belizeans celebrate their nation's history with patriotic events. This month commemorates the Battle of St. George's Caye and Belize's Independence Day. This year's theme for the September Celebrations is "Valiant and Bold, Proud and Free! Belize @ 43," reflecting the nation's spirit of unity, courage, and freedom. The festivities started with flag-raising ceremonies across the county for National Flag Day. On Sunday, September 1st, at 6AM, community members, local authorities, and proud Belizeans gathered at Central Park for the ceremonial event opening the September Celebrations. As the first rays of sunlight lit up the park, voices sang the national anthem as the Belizean flag rose into the sky.

The anticipated island celebration, El Carnaval de San Pedro, opened on Saturday, February 10th, with the first-ever Comparsa Talent Show featuring several colorful dancing groups on stage. Held at Central Park under the theme 'Tributo a la Tradicion,' the festival included live entertainment, games for the children, and booths offering tasty treats and beverages.

Held at El Patio Restaurant under sparkling décor, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) honored the outstanding tourism business of Ambergris Caye on Saturday evening, November 25th. Mr. Gerry Badillo and Ms. Natalie Arceo hosted the glamorous event, with the Black and White Garifuna Center performing, opening the ceremony with lively traditional dances.

The San Pedro Dance Academy (SPDA) celebrated moms, grandmothers, and all other maternal figures on Saturday, May 27th, during a special Mother’s Day Tribute Program. The academy’s talented young dancers graced the San Pedro Lions Den stage, entertaining their beloved family and friends.

The last time the San Pedro Town Council held an extravaganza of entertainment to celebrate Mother's Day was in 2019. The traditional festivity finely returned with COVID-19 restrictions, now a thing of the past. On Saturday, May 7th, the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex welcomed hundreds of island mothers for an evening full of performances, music, giveaways, and a comedy show with popular performers from Mexico. Mother of the Year was also selected near the show's end, with the prestigious recognition going to Mrs. Patricia Marin.

The DANCE group completed their program by encouraging the young dancers to also conserve their environment.

A new project embarked on La Isla Bonita where DANCE group invited all children of San Pedro for free dance classes.