The Tribune

FREEPORT – The Grand Bahama branch of the Bahamas National Trust has started gearing up for this year’s Festival Noel, which is only weeks away.

The 19th annual wine tasting and art show is set to take place Friday, December 6, and is the only fundraiser for the BNT branch in Grand Bahama.

The Festival Noel planning committee has been reviewing the artwork of several noteworthy Bahamian artists, and recently selected Dion Lewis, a Nassau based artist, as the featured guest artist for this year.

The committee has also been working with local restaurants and is excited to announce it will be bringing back the Chef Noel competition thanks to new sponsors.

“The success of Festival Noel is due to all of the incredible sponsors that continue to participate year after year,” said Karin Sanchez, former branch president and BNT council member. “Because of their generosity we hope to make each ticket sold pure profit.”

Returning sponsors to this year’s festival include lead sponsor Bristol Wines and Spirits, Freeport Advertising and Printing, Colombian Emeralds International, Sunny Isles, Barefoot Marketing and Bahamaislandsinfo.com.

New sponsors lending a hand are Polymers International, Pharmachem, Bahamas Food Services and Grand Bahama Shipyard, whose apprentices will even roast a pig for the night.

There will be two bands at the festival this year, ‘Upper Cut’ which will return to entertain guests, and rising new comers ‘Two Left Feet’.

There will also be a silent auction for artwork and other interesting pieces, but exactly what’s up for sale will not be revealed until the event is underway.

Tickets for Festival Noel will go on sale next week and interested persons are asked to follow updates on the event page on Facebook.

Lakeshia Anderson, BNT parks planner, said: “I am extremely excited about the plans for this year’s 19th Festival Noel. The committee has been working extremely hard, and has done a remarkable job in organising the event, to ensure that our guests will have the pleasure of enjoying a selection of exquisite foods, fine art, and sampling of a selection of wines. Festival Noel is definitely THE event for Grand Bahama.”