January - Bonaire

This calendar reflects the island’s highlights for 2014, including all activities,
events and holidays as planned by TCB and our tourism partners.
TCB’s Main Highlights 2014
January
January 1
New Year’s Day – Maskarada
(Opening Carnivals period)
Maskarada, on New Year’s Day, originates from Bonaire’s Spanish founding. Completely disguised, including
speech, locals from each village dress and arrive early in groups at the Lt. Governor’s home to dance and play
outside wishing the family a Happy New Year (“Bon Aña”). The Lt. Governor thanks them with a bottle of rum,
held and dispensed by a designated member.
January 11
Dive Friends Clean Up Dive
Dive Friends Bonaire organizes the quarterly Bonaire Underwater Clean Up Dive. On each Clean Up Dive, a
different area of Bonaire’s coastal reefs or beaches is selected and any trash which has not become part of the
reef is collected. We invite and welcome any participants who want to combine vacation with doing the right
thing for their reefs! Quarterly cleanups give us the opportunity to focus on the removal of new trash rather than
disturbing the flora and fauna that have taken up residence in older trash.
January 19
Kaminda di Arte
Every 3rd Sunday of the month: Bonaire Art tour! More than 15 museums/art galleries across the Island
open their doors from 11am thru 5pm. The Art Tour includes special expositions and musical performances.
Everyone is invited to come. For the art route and more information, visit the Bonaire art website.
January 23-25
Bonaire International & Local Fishing Tournament
It gives us great pleasure to invite you to our “26th Bonaire International and Local Fishing Tournament”. Our
tournament will give away more than $ 15000.00 in prizes, either cash or valuable products, and of course we
will have lots of entertainment. Next to fishing there will be sufficient food and drinks and of course our fabulous
atmosphere at the event.
February
February-March
Bonaire Carnival Holidays
Bonaire Carnival Holidays fall within this month. The period starts from carnival with the Tumba Festival and the
Queen’s and King’s Elections for the adult and children carnival parade. The Children’s parade takes place the
first weekend starting on Saturday in the village of Rincon and on Sunday in the Centrum of Kralendijk. Adult
Carnival parade takes place the following weekend with the same order of parade. This week that follows is filled
with celebrations culminating with the burning of the King Momo at the parking lot of the Kralendijk Stadium.
February 8
Tumba Contest
Originally from Africa with a Caribbean influence, the tumba music played during the Carnival has the rhythm
of the “tambu”which is a tambour with a 6/8 beat. This event features local bands and singers competing for
the Tumba King or Queen title with their original musical compositions and lyrics.
February 16
Kaminda di Arte
Every 3rd Sunday of the month: Bonaire Art tour! More than 15 museums/art galleries across the Island
open their doors from 11am thru 5pm. The Art Tour includes special expositions and musical performances.
Everyone is invited to come. For the art route and more information, visit the Bonaire art website.
February 21
Carnival Queen Election
Bonaire elects one of its most important carnival representatives, the Bonaire Carnival Queen.
Young women between the ages of 17 and 25 compete for the honor of leading the Grand Parade.
February 22
Carnival Youth Parade Rincon & Kralendijk
February 22nd, the district of Rincon demonstrates its Carnival spirit with the presentation of its own
children parade.
February 23
February 23rd, Youth Grand Parade in Kralendijk includes all of the island’s different carnival groups.
Hundreds of children enjoy the opportunity to show off their dancing skills and colorful costumes.
March
March 1
Carnival Grand Parade in Rincon
This is a prelude to the Grand Carnival Parade. Local musicians create an exceptional ambiance in Rincon
by playing their latest carnival hits to the delight of hundreds of marchers dressed in resplendent costumes.
March 2
Carnival Grand Parade in Kralendijk
The largest carnival parade is the Grand Parade through Kralendijk held on Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
This parade is filled with unforgettable music, spectacular floats and original costumes decorated with colorful
stones, sequins and feathers, creating a unique display.
March 3
Carnival Monday (Official holiday)
Old Mask Youth Parade and burning of King Momito
The end of the carnival season is marked with a parade ending in Kralendijk followed by the symbolic burning of
“King Momito” which takes place on the parking lot of the stadium.
March 4
Old Mask Parade and Burning of King Momito
Carnival comes to an official end on the eve of Ash Wednesday with the burning of ‘King Momo”. This event takes place in
Kralendijk.
March 5
Ash Wednesday
March 16
Kaminda di Arte
Every 3rd Sunday of the month: Bonaire Art tour! More than 15 museums/art galleries across the Island open
their doors from 11am thru 5pm. The Art Tour includes special expositions and musical performances. Everyone
is invited to come. For the art route and more information, visit the Bonaire art website.
March 21-22
Bon Doet
BON DOET will be the first Bonairean version of the NL DOET organized annually in the Netherlands by Oranje
Fonds to bring volunteers and organizations together to earn and benefit from each other, helping our community
to grow. (www.nldoet.nl/bonaire)
March 29
Earth Hour
Earth Hour 2014 will take place on Saturday, March 29th at 8:30pm (local time).
April
April 18
Good Friday (Legal Holiday)
April 19
Dive Friends Clean Up Dive
Dive Friends Bonaire organizes the quarterly Bonaire Underwater Clean Up Dive. On each Clean Up Dive, a
different area of Bonaire’s coastal reefs or beaches is selected and any trash which has not become part of the
reef is collected. We invite and welcome any participants who want to combine vacation with doing the right
thing for their reefs! Quarterly cleanups give us the opportunity to focus on the removal of new trash rather than
disturbing the flora and fauna that have taken up residence in older trash.
April 20
Easter Sunday
(Legal Holiday)
April 21
Easter Monday (Legal Holiday)
Simadan (Harvest) Festival Rincon
Simadan stems from Bonaire’s slave days and celebrates the growing season’s harvest (typically March/April).
The festive harvest celebration in Bonaire varies from other places, perhaps, as a direct result of the way slaves
on Bonaire were treated.
Bonaire’s slaves grew crops for owners and some were permitted personal crops as well, a “liberty” not usually
afforded to slaves elsewhere. Personal gains gave Bonairean slaves reason to celebrate at Simadan, while
slaves in Curacao, for example, witnessed harvest going only to the owners and lamented instead.
After Bonaire’s slavery abolition in 1863, most slaves received land. Together, families took turns helping to
harvest and celebrating the crops throughout Simadan. Similarly today, familes and friends gather to help
harvest sorghum and maize, while the farmer supplies food and drink (rum) for the party.
April Cont’d.
April 26
King’s Birthday (Local Holiday)
An official government ceremony in honor of King Willem Alexander Is followed by numerous events and
celebrations.
April 30
Rincon’s Day
Rincon Day is a special day on the island of Bonaire, where the focus is in the oldest town of Bonaire and the
Dutch Caribbean. Visitors can enjoy an array of local cuisines and listen to local music and traditional dances.
All of these activities take place in the center of Rincon where locals and visitors meet and enjoy several cultural
festivities.
Several other activities organized on this day are:
King’s Birthday Windsurfing Race (Sorobon)
King’s Birthday Race 17-5-km MCB RUN Start Time 7:00 am (S)
May
May 1
Labor Day (Legal Holiday)
8:00am 2-4-5-km run Mega Fm run
May 4th
Taste of Bonaire
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handicrafts
and all things offered on Bonaire.
May 17-24
Diving For Bonaire Treasure Challenge
May 29
Ascension Day
June
SA International Triathlon Event
June 21-25
PWA Bonaire World Cup 2014 Freestyle Windsurfing
The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) represents excellence in windsurfing. It’s current and past
members constitute the very best windsurfers in the World. We the PWA are the sailors who represent the sport
at the highest level of competition, we strive to improve everyday and make windsurfing better for you, the
public.
June 24
St John’s Day
Feast Day of St. John - sowing time after harvest. The Lord was asked via San Juan (St. John) to bring rain and
calm strong winds of April, May and June.
June 25-29
10Th Annual Starboard Pro Kids Freestyle World Championship
A week of activities with a special focus on the young children participating. An internationally recognized
windsurfing competition which is the meeting point of different countries around the world. For more
information:www.prokidsfreestyle.com
June 27
Taste of Bonaire
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handicrafts and all
things offered on Bonaire.
June 29
St Peter’s Day
Feast Days of St. Peter & St. Paul - time of hard winds. Bonaireans asked the Lord via San Pablo (St. Paul) to
calm the winds and via San Pedro (St. Peter) the fisherman asked to bring Bonaire’s men home safely from sea.
21st Edition of Bonaire Art Day
This event will take place in the Wilhelmina Park and is filled with cultural events. Guests can dance to the
music of Bonaire and eat special local dishes. This year will be the 20th year of the Bonaire Art Day. This is a
time when locals, youngsters and tourists get the chance to show their talent. Whether it’s singing, painting or
dancing it is all considered Art and it is celebrated in a unique way on the island of Bonaire. Bonaire Art Day
takes place at the Wilhelmina Park from 11:00am thru 11:00pm.
July
July 12
Dive Friends Clean Up Dive
Dive Friends Bonaire organizes the quarterly Bonaire Underwater Clean Up Dive. On each Clean Up Dive, a
different area of Bonaire’s coastal reefs or beaches is selected and any trash which has not become part of the
reef is collected. We invite and welcome any participants who want to combine vacation with doing the right
thing for their reefs! Quarterly cleanups give us the opportunity to focus on the removal of new trash rather than
disturbing the flora and fauna that have taken up residence in older trash.
July 27
Taste of Bonaire
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handicrafts and all
things offered on Bonaire.
Buddy Dive Resort Free Diving Week
August
August 1-3
Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival 2014
On August 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2014, another breathtaking edition of the Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival will take place!
Three days of high quality music, from different parts of the world:
August 1st, Oleta Adams will be the main act on the first evening of the Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival. DJ
Maestro with a trumpet player and Charles Brouwer and Band will warm up the beach for her. Soul, jazz and pop
all during one evening on one stage!
August 2nd, two world class acts will be playing: Matt Bianco from the UK, and Mr. Frank Reyes, the prince of
Bachata! Before they will start their performances, a local musical surprise will blow you away! Pop, latin, jazz
and bachata: a combination that works best on Bonaire!
August 3rd starts with a beach BBQ and Jam Fest by local and guest musicians. The afternoon will end with
The Original Wailers, playing all of Bob Marley’s greatest hits. Family, food, jam sessions and reggae: there is no
better way to finish off your Bonaire Heineken Jazz Festival Weekend!
For more information: www.bonairejazz.net
August Cont’d.
August 2-8 and August 9-15
Annual Fish Id Challenge Program
For many years, Bonaire Dive & Adventure has actively supported education and conservation programs
designed to contribute to the preservation of Bonaire’s magnificent underwater Marine Park. Joint them for their
latest endeavor, in conjunction with Fish ID experts Scott & Patti Chandler of ReefNet Inc. For more information
or reservations call +599 717 2229.
August 16-23
10th Annual Bonaire Wounded Warrior
Scuba Diving Certification Program
A special week on Bonaire that welcomes and celebrates a group of wounded warriors and their families. They
will be hosted by Captain Don’s Habitat and many other businesses and individuals on and off Bonaire will open
their doors and hearts to this exceptional group of men and women.
August 31
Taste of Bonaire
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handicrafts and all
things offered on Bonaire. On top of that, visitors will have the opportunity to taste signature dishes of wellknown restaurants offered at special prices.
September
Local Fishing Tournament
This popular event celebrates the maritime history of Bonaire, significant to many local families whose maritime
history may go back several generations. (more info to come)
Duo fest international Vocal
More information will be available at a later date.
September Cont’d.
September 6
Bonaire Flag Day (Legal Holiday)
A local holiday where the entire island of Bonaire celebrates the existence of the island. Most of the time it is
held within a chosen town on Bonaire where locals and visitors dance, eat, drink on the streets with several
entertainment bands. The Motorcycle event is also one of the major highlights of this day where over 400
participants with their motorcycles are flown in from around the world and take a tour of the island as part of
the national flag day ceremony.
September 16
Clean Up The World
This annual clean up day will be organized by Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire and Ocean Conservancy,
with the help of Stinapa. They will give visitors the opportunity to join a team of volunteers and clean up our
beautiful island Klein Bonaire.
TBA
2-4-5 km Estafette Run
More information will be available at a later date.
27 September
World Tourism Day
World Tourism Day (WTD), celebrated every year on 27 September, is a global observance to highlight
tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value.
WTD 2014 is being held under the theme Tourism and Community Development - focusing on the ability of
tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.
October
October 5
Jong Bonaire’s Annual Swim To Klein Bonaire Event
Annual Swim to Klein Bonaire organized by Jong Bonaire.
October 5-11
47th Bonaire International Sailing Regatta
October Cont’d.
October 7
2-4-5 km Web Run 5:30 pm
October 11-17 and 18-24
Mission Tech Possible
Buddy Dive Resort, Technical Diving International (TDI) and Dive Rite, are excited to announce that they will
once again team up to host their annual technical diving event at Buddy Dive Resort, October 11-24, 2014.
This popular event offers dive guests two full weeks of tech-focused activities and the opportunity to meet
and dive with the pros. For more information: www.buddydive.com
October 18
Dive Friends Clean Up Dive
Dive Friends Bonaire organizes the quarterly Bonaire Underwater Clean Up Dive. On each Clean Up Dive,
a different area of Bonaire’s coastal reefs or beaches is selected and any trash which has not become part
of the reef is collected. We invite and welcome any participants who want to combine vacation with doing the
right thing for their reefs! Quarterly cleanups give us the opportunity to focus on the removal of new
trash rather than disturbing the flora and fauna that have taken up residence in older trash.
October 19
Bonaire Duo Xtreme Mountain Bike Race
In the early morning of Sunday, October 19th, the 5th Duo Xtreme Race will be held on Bonaire. We invite all
mountainbike-enthusiasts to participate in this thrilling race. For more information: www.mtbbonaire.com
November
November 8
Miss Teen Bonaire & Mister Bonaire 2014 Pageant by AD
Production.
November 21
Tree Planting
December
December 1
Bari Festival Period
The season Bari, from late November lasting until the end of the year, was a depiction of the gossipy news and
events displayed by different music and songs. The event took place for everyone to see and hear. Probably
better to behave, let ‘secrets’ be broadcast for all to hear!
The Bari is an African style drum (different than Maskarada) constructed with a barrel base and a stretched
sheepskin top. Called Tambu in Curacao, Bonaireans called it Bari, after the rum ‘barrel’ used in the making. In
addition to the Bari, slaves used a ukulele, guitar and a wiri to broadcast the news. A wiri is a piece of metal with
notches played by sliding a stick on top.
Today, as the musicians are brought rum drinks, the year’s events are put to song and the musicians playfully
banter back and forth while friends and family listen and enjoy.
TBA
Road Race 54 Km and 70 Km Rose Inn
More information will be available at a later date.
December 5
Sinterklaas Birthday Celebration
Originated in Holland and celebrated only in the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands, Sinterklaas (or St.
Nicholas) is a day children look forward to. Sinterklaas is a tall elderly man dressed in red that rides a white
horse and is accompanied by zwarte pieten (servants).
As tradition has it, Sinterklaas visits only once a year, bringing presents to all the children who have been
well behaved. In order to receive a present, children on December 4th fill one of their shoes with grass for
Sinterklaas’ white horse; the next morning they awake to find an empty shoe and a present.
December Cont’d.
December 15
Kingdom Day
December 15
Latin America Bonaire Photo Contest 2014 Winner
Announcement
December
End of Year Race Windsurf Race
More information will be available at a later date.
December 25
Christmas Day (legal holiday)
December 26
Boxing Day
(legal holiday)
December 31
Fireworks shows in the streets of Bonaire
Happy New Year!!!
Contact the Tourism Corporation Bonaire for more information, or visit the websites listed in this calendar of events.
Tourism Corporation Bonaire: US/CANADA -- usa@tourismbonaire.com, EUROPE – Europe@tourismbonaire.com,
SOUTH AMERICA – southamerica@tourismbonaire.com.