Forget a spring cold, the only thing you want to catch this weekend is fair fever, as the 75th anniversary staple is doing it big with some of the biggest names in Bahamian entertainment -- Veronica Bishop, Dillon "D-Mac" McKenzie, Geno D., The Rhythm Band, Synergy Band, Stileet and Ronnie Butler all scheduled to perform. Genesis Junkanoo Group, the Carnival girls and Demetrius the Karaoke King will continue the excitement that is the fair throughout the day.
With addition of live vocal performances on the schedule, the Red Cross Fair as it's been known has been totally upended. Patrons will definitely be in for a treat on Saturday for which the theme is "Fair Fever, Catch It."
"It's our 75th anniversary, so hence we pumped it up," said Red Cross Director General Caroline Turnquest. "People won't be able to say that the Red Cross Fair is the same old thing, so it's special to do this."
Turnquest who also celebrates her birthday on Saturday, but who will be working the event said she is tickled pink at how exciting the day will be, and will enjoy every minute of the 12 noon to 12 midnight fair at Government House's Lower Grounds.
"We're bringing back the teen disco featuring DJ Selecta, J-Mac and DJ Ignite. We have a Big Red Dunkin' Booth, and we're trying to get local celebrities in there to get dunked. The youth culture fest will be displaying Bahamian history and culture ... so there will be tons of stuff this year. We went overboard with things to do."
BTC has even sponsored battle of the bands in which bands compete to win $2,500 in prize money. There will again be a petting zoo for the children, an entertaining magician, and no event would be complete without a Junkanoo rushout.
"I'm tickled pink that all of this will be happening," said Turnquest.
In decades past, the Red Cross Fair was the must attend event on any given year, and this is what Turnquest said they are trying to bring back. And it goes without saying the amount of food on offer -- conch fritters, fried chicken peas and rice, curry chicken, fried fish, conch and grits, mouthwatering delicacies, including all the desserts.
Proceeds from the fair are all for a good cause, and go towards ensureing that the Red Cross has funds to assist in times of emergency.
"We came through Hurricane Joaquin and we're still dealing with those individuals, and we're almost on the tip of the next hurricane season, so please support us," said Turnquest. "This helps to raise funds for our meals on wheels program, after school program, first aid training, in addition to our disaster management and disaster response that we provide for this country.
Fair admission is $3 adults, $2 children. The fair is 12 noon to 12 midnight at the Government House Lower Grounds.
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