{"id":113882,"date":"2020-07-21T17:39:39","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T21:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=113882"},"modified":"2020-07-21T17:39:39","modified_gmt":"2020-07-21T21:39:39","slug":"abfc-to-host-virtual-party-monarch-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/abfc-to-host-virtual-party-monarch-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"ABFC to Host Virtual Party Monarch Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals
\nCommission (ABFC) is pleased to announce that for the first time, a Virtual Party Monarch
\nCompetition will be staged in Antigua and Barbuda, on Saturday 1st August.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

The competition is open to all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, 18 years and over. One of
\nthe most exciting features is the ability for participants to enter with any soca song (jumpy
\nor groovy) from previous years.<\/p>\n

As the first of its kind to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, the event is styled as a two-round
\ncompetition, a preliminary elimination, and the final event. For the preliminary event, songs
\nwill be adjudicated on tracks only, and subsequently, a panel of judges will select ten
\nfinalists to participate in the Virtual Party Monarch on Emancipation Day. For this event,
\neach artiste will perform with the accompanying band.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

This year, Antigua and Barbuda would have celebrated its 63rd anniversary of Carnival.
\nHowever, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our citizens and residents
\nbecame the Nation\u2019s top priority, forcing its cancellation. Nevertheless, after many appeals
\nto the ABFC to host an event to keep the spirit of Carnival alive this year, the Government
\nof Antigua and Barbuda made the decision to host a Virtual Party Monarch, merging two of
\nour Nation\u2019s favourite elements, \u201cSoca Music\u201d and a \u201cFestive Competition\u201d. By doing this,
\nthe social conversation is kept alive thereby allowing persons to enjoy the spirit of our
\nculture and Carnival from the comfort of their mobile device and home.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

Every soca artiste and entertainer has been affected by this pandemic, and as such, this
\ncompetition provides a beneficial avenue for them to expose their talents to the online
\nworld, which spans beyond the borders of Antigua and Barbuda.<\/p>\n

The artistes who have produced good music over the years will have a financial incentive
\nto participate as the winner will receive $15,000; with the runners-up receiving consolation
\nprizes.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

As the Minister with responsibility for National Festivals, Honourable Daryll Matthew
\nexplains, \u201cOut of crisis comes opportunity, and this platform gives us the chance to begin
\nthe marketing campaign for Antigua\u2019s Carnival 2021 \u2013 The Caribbean\u2019s Greatest Summer
\nFestival\u201d.<\/p>\n

Registration for the competition is currently ongoing at the National Festivals Office (NFO),
\nlocated upstairs the Cecil George-John Building on the corner of Redcliffe Street and Corn
\nAlley. Persons can also complete their registration online by visiting the Antigua Carnival
\nwebsite, www.antiguacarnival.com. Tracks (music) can be hand-delivered to the NFO on a
\nflash drive or CD, or submitted online by emailing abfestivals@ab.gov.ag.The deadline for
\nregistration and track submission is Friday 25th July.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) is pleased to announce that for the first time, a Virtual Party Monarch Competition will be staged in Antigua and Barbuda, on Saturday 1st August. The competition is open to all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, 18 years and over. One of the most exciting features is the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":48074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nABFC to Host Virtual Party Monarch Competition - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/abfc-to-host-virtual-party-monarch-competition\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ABFC to Host Virtual Party Monarch Competition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) is pleased to announce that for the first time, a Virtual Party Monarch Competition will be staged in Antigua and Barbuda, on Saturday 1st August. The competition is open to all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, 18 years and over. 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