The objective of Bermuda’s Beachfest Emancipation Celebration (Beachfest) is to grow a local tradition into an internationally recognised cultural festival that celebrates Bermuda, her history, and her people, alongside top international artists, while attracting visitors from around the world. Beachfest, going into it’s ninth year, is the unification of Bermuda’s residents, visitors, and friends and is the largest annual event in Bermuda, attracting huge crowds and ushering in Bermuda’s most festive period – Cup Match.

Beachfest Jouvert – dancing in the paint!

Beachfest takes place on Emancipation Day (Thu. July 31st 2014, 8am-9pm) on Horseshoe Bay in Southampton.

This year Beachfest will include the culmination of the Beachfest Crown Song Competition, a competition inviting all artists in Bermuda to submit up to two songs for the chance to win a $10,000 prize package, a sponsor prize pack and bragging rights for creating the official song of the Summer.
This annual Award will help develop local pride and culture by inspiring and incentivizing local recording artists to compose an original song that celebrates Bermuda and her people and successfully gets people excited about the Bermuda summer.

The winning song, and all the songs contributed, will become a major tool in celebrating Bermuda and delivering a national campaign that helps to positively reconnect people with all the good that Bermuda has in store, rebuilding national pride and creating an annual anthem similar in impact to the now classic “Proud To Be Bermudian”. The winning song/artist will be presented with their Award, and be featured alongside fellow finalists and the international superstar, all performing on the same stage and welcoming in Emancipation Day with a bang.

Beachfest – the place to be!

Activities are planned to enhance the interaction among revelers on the beach to strengthen the camping tradition, encourage togetherness among visitors and locals, and promote the celebration and education of one of Bermuda’s most important historical events: our emancipation. Attendees will see the return of Football, Volleyball, Limbo and Jouvert as well as enhancements to the Kid Zone.

Beachfest has grown every year, to become Bermuda’s premier attraction for overseas visitors, and a global introduction and celebration of Bermudian culture. In 2012, there were over 2000 tourists who attended, with over 200 people coming to Bermuda specifically to attend Beachfest. We aim to maximize this opportunity and grow these numbers by strengthening industry relationships and fortifying our philosophy that tourists come as visitors, and leave as friends who return to the island outside of Beachfest.

Bands, DJs, and performers hit the main stage throughout the event!

Beachfest Tent City – where everyone has a home.

In 2011 and 2012, we ensured that Beachfest was covered by media in Trinidad, Barbados and the U.S. receiving rave reviews. Beachfest was ranked by Trinidadian media higher than events from Trinidad Carnival and Barbados Crop Over; cultural celebrations with more than 50 years of history. Beachfest has also won the Best of Bermuda Award for Cultural Event of The Year an unprecedented three times in its eight year history.
Our objective is to grow this prestige through key media & industry partnerships, emphasis on quality control, and increasing revenue to fortify the event comprehensively.