Another outstanding moment was the trip to space that, by the hand of the Virgin Galactic aerospace company, mother and daughter, natives of the islands, made for the first time. And, next August 19 and 20, it will be the turn of the PiAngo festival, which, in each edition, is dedicated to promoting the diverse use of mangoes and pineapples, not only in their natural state, but also other local products that can be made with those fruits.
Carnival days
For those who choose the destination, it is worth living the carnival experience: for 13 days, Antigua offers a spectacle of color, fun and contagious emotion. The festivities, which celebrate freedom and commemorate the days of the abolition of slavery, include contests such as the Party Monarch and the Calypso Monarch; the Panorama steel band and the spectacular parade with the election of the Carnival Queen, among other special gastronomic and cultural events.
The first space tourists from the Caribbean
Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, from Antigua and Barbuda, became the Caribbean pioneers of space exploration. Their extraordinary journey began on August 10, 2023, when Virgin Galactic's spacecraft 02 came to life at Truth or Consequences' Spaceport America, New Mexico.
The Virgin Galactic Global Livestream of the space flight was broadcast on giant screens at a public Watch Party in Antigua, along with footage of the local festivities in turn broadcast to a global audience. Astronaut Christopher Huie gave live commentary and also interviewed the Prime Minister of Antigua about what this unique occasion meant to the twin island nation.
El PiAngo Fest
The event, formerly known as Mango Fest, is the festival that is organized annually by the Ministry of Agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda with the objective that farmers have the opportunity to exhibit the fruits and their derived products such as wines, soaps, jams, jellies, cakes, nuts, sweets and candies, among others.
For visitors, the event is an opportunity to experience local flavors and cuisine up close at the Cades Bay Agricultural Station.