While the expected turn out was not realized, the troops that participated provided a colourful show through the streets of Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO

The Stilt dancers provided the usual special attraction to this year's Kiddies Fiesta parade. Photo: VINO

There was food and more food all day long. Photo: VINO

There was more than enough attractions of kids at the kiddies fiesta. Photo: VINO

Getting a face painting was one of the rushed after attractions. Photo: VINO

The winners of the 2013 Prince and Princess show join Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn in declaring the event open. Second from left is Rotary's Charles Crane, one of the key organizers for the activity. Photo: VINO

There was no need for a panel of judges as little Madison was a show by herself a the Fiesta. Photo: VINO

Digicel was one of the major sponsors of the event this year. Photo: VINO

These girls were part of the group 'Treasures of the BVI' that took part in the 20th Anniversary Rotary Kiddies Fiesta of 2013. Photo: VINO

There were many attractions that kept the day alive for the kids and this mom could not pass without her baby grabbing the bubbly balls experience. Photo:VINO

The Enis Adams Primary was one of two schools that participated this year and these five young ladies said that they had a ball. Photo: VINO

The Althea Scatliffe Primary School Striders danced the majorettes' baton providing one of many items of entertainment at the Kiddies Fiesta. Photo: VINO

Baby J'Sadie was the little cupid in pink who refused to be cuddled all day in mommy's arms. Photo: VINO

Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn was on the spot to declare the Fiesta open and had spoken of the significance of the activity in the growth and development of young children.

The parade this year can be best described as a cake-cutting celebration for those who participated in one way or the other. It was definitely nothing more but fun for all the children who were all decked in an array of colourful costumes as they gleefully danced through the streets of Road Town, Tortola.

According to the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Road Town, Mr Charles Crane, the club wanted the Kiddies Fiesta to be a major spectacle this year by bringing out as many schools as possible to participate in the parade to mark the 20^th anniversary but they were somewhat disappointed. “The parade was very colourful this year but we were hoping to get a few more troops from the schools but that didn’t happen,” said Mr Crane.

“We had gone out to the schools saying we are going to be judging the parade this year and that Digicel has very kindly decided that they were going to provide each of the three winning troops with cell phones free and the schools were going to get something too. We were hoping that might have been good enough encouragement to get the schools in but that didn’t work,” he added.

To make the parade one with of difference, the parade was to be judged and had sent out invitations to all the schools to participate. However, only two schools responded positively and joined the other groups that formed a colourful children’s parade. The two schools that came out were Althea Scatliffe Primary School and Enis Adams Primary.

Crane said the organisors were nonetheless happy that the Rotary Club of Road Town had successfully executed yet another Kiddies Fiesta as one of the key activities making up the 2013 festival season of the Virgin Islands.

The president-elect also said the use of a bigger park this year, the Queen Elizabeth Park, contributed to more space and had attracted more people than that of last year. The park was filled with quite a number of fun activities for children, booths with a wide range of toys, treats, food, snacks and face painting.