Everyone from Mighty Whitey to national recording artists Bobby and Michelle Rice will be playing up a storm Feb. 21 – 27 at Crown Bay Marina to benefit the Victim Advocates program.
They will be complemented by an art exhibit with pieces available in an item raffle, a culinary contest worthy of the "Iron Chefs" featuring four mega yacht chefs and two local chefs, arts and crafts show with various objects available for purchase, culminating in an unforgettable dingy parade and competition. Billed as "Ticklesfest 2001," the extravaganza is the brainchild of Tickles' manager Peter Zachko.
June Archibald has brought Price Mart into the sponsors' fold, joining West Indies Corporation, Gourmet Gallery and Bellows, who gave so generously at last years inaugural event.
Victim advocates are a dedicated group of local volunteers who counsel and assist victims of crime and medical emergency on St. Thomas. Whether it is the victim of a shooting, spousal abuse, rape, beating, or witnessing traumatic events, hundreds of individuals and families on St. Thomas have experienced the assistance of a victim advocate.
Any time there is a situation our police, courts or other welfare agencies cannot deal with, volunteer victim advocates are called upon. Monies donated to this group are used to pay the expenses of one part time advocate, pay for meals and lodgings for people under stress and in danger, assisting with whatever needs the police, courts and welfare agencies are unable to meet in a timely fashion.
Ticklesfest opens Wednesday 21 February with "Open Mike Night and Mighty Whitey." Local Calypsonian Nicky Russell will play his guitar and sing his songs from 7 p.m. on, while guest roam the grounds of Crown Bay Marina inspecting the "Arts on Exhibit." Some of the items are available for purchase through the item raffle. You purchase $2 tickets and drop them in the box in front of the item/s you are interested in. This raffle will take place throughout the week with all proceeds going to the Victim Advocates program.
Thursday evening sees a continuation of Arts on Exhibit with more music and general conviviality.
Friday evening will find two bands playing at various parts of the marina–the Stevie Legend Band and Bobby Rice. Bobby Rice produced the unforgettable country song "You Lay So Easy On My Mind" recorded by Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Roy Orbison, Pat Boone, Andy Williams, and many others. Other singles include: You Give Me You, The Whole Worlds Makin Love Again Tonight, Write Me A Letter, Sugar Shack, Mountain of Love, and My Special Angle.
Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. the Arts and Crafts show will hold center stage. Items in this display are available for sale with a percentage of all sales dedicated to assisting the Victim Advocates.
Sunday from 3 p.m. until midnight some twenty bands are scheduled to play throughout the marina starting off with Lefty Lucy or Dick Solberg. Mongoose will host a live remote over 104.9 FM. At 3:30 p.m. the festival king and queen will be crowned. This year the king will be that local celebrity "Brownie" while the queen will be chosen from the mega yacht fleet crews.
The primer event is spotlighted beginning at 3 p.m. with the chef's competition patterned off the Internationally famous "Iron Chefs." Four mega yacht chefs and two local chefs will be paired in cookoffs. Two at a time the contestants will be given 45 minutes to shop, plan, and prepare their entrees before the crowd on grills donated by Terra Chem. Plates will be given to the judges for their critical evaluation, and samples will be available for purchase by the public. All proceeds from the cookoff will be donated to Victim Advocates.
The drinks competition will begin at 4:30 p.m. with more mega yacht personnel competing against local bar tenders in a creation contest bar none. Winners of the events are expected to be announced at 6 p.m. while the festivities continue until midnight.
Monday, festivities began again at 7 p.m. with the live band "R.J. Nuisance."
Tuesday is Madis Gras night introducing the band "Busted Symbols." Throughout the day contestants will be dressing dinghies for a parade around the yacht basin beginning at 5:30 p.m. Prizes will be given for best-dressed dinghy, best crew costume and best crew mask. Anyone interested in joining in the competition is advised to contact Peter at Tickles. Again, two bands will play throughout the evening. Finally, there will be a gourmet items auction rounding out the evening's activities.
This week of fun, food, good will is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser with some thing for almost everyone. Bring your money and party with the knowledge that all proceeds from the Bellow's Victim Advocate bar, face painting, chef's food samples, art lottery, and gourmet item auction. The art and craft fair sale of goods also will benefit Victim Advocates with a percentage of sales. This is the closest thing you can find to a win, win, win situation.
VI Source Archive · 1998–2015