Entertainment for Falklands’ residents: quite more than could be expected
Since the world’s eyes were on the Falklands during the 30th Anniversary Commemorations for the 1982 Conflict, life in the Islands has returned to normality and despite a population of approximately only 3,000, residents activities are far from quiet and enjoy very enjoyable.
Tourists visiting the Falkland Islands frequently ask what residents do for entertainment and in response it can be hard to answer, not because of the lack of entertainment but quite the opposite, it’s hard to know where to start!
Throughout the year residents enjoy various fundraisers, balls, tournaments, quizzes, dances, live music nights, variety shows, stage productions, children’s plays and concerts, weddings, fancy dress parties, school fetes, craft shows, an annual horticultural show, church fetes. The list is impressively long and varied.
Various annual events are particular highlights each year with probably the longest running being the May Ball. The ball gives people 15 years and over the opportunity to dress in beautiful ball gowns and suits and dance to traditional music. Practicing the different dances starts months in advance and sees youngsters impressively gliding round the Town Hall dance floor during the ball. May Queen, May Princess, Prince Charming and Prince Charming Runner-up are crowned during the evening. The Winter Ball allows residents another opportunity to don their ball gowns and suits and dance the night away whilst raising money for a local music charity.
For those residents interested in sports then there is an abundance of different activities, competitions, tournaments and events to take part in. The darts league is particularly popular with teams and individuals taking part every Monday in Stanley’s pubs. An exciting and suspense filled darts tournament takes place in the Town Hall each year. The World’s Most Southerly Marathon takes place annually and depending on the wind strength on the day is surely one of the toughest marathons in the world. The Stanley Golf Club and Indoor Hockey Club also hold competitions and run a league throughout the year.
The Falkland Islands Football League organises an indoor 4-a-side football league throughout the winter and then moves outside to the football pitch for the 11-a-side league during the summer months. The Stanley Team train in the Islands and take part in the biannual Natwest Island Games, either every 2 or 4 years depending on funding.
Initially a one off event Olympic Spirit 2012 was a fundraising night for the Stanley Badminton Club and featured special guest Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Rebecca Pantaney, and her London 2012 Olympic Torch. The evening proved to be such an overwhelming success that the club is looking to use it as a template for future funding events, particularly with the 2013 Natwest Island Games in Bermuda on the horizon.
Fancy dress is often a popular choice for celebrations and fundraisers and this month the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) held a Roman Themed fundraising night. Residents wanting to test their brain matter can take part in quiz evenings held as fundraisers for various local charities. For talented local musicians, comedians and aspiring actors there are Open Mic Nights, variety shows and stage productions.
The annual Raft Race takes place on the 1st January each year and sees local residents and military personnel creating some wacky, impressive, unique and sometimes utterly useless rafts and racing them along Stanley Harbour.
by Roxanne King - SeAledPR - Stanley
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22 comments Feed
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Sorry, Islanders, I couldn't resist.
I know however that the Secret Escape Police are after me and that I will be hijacked in October with Griz and dragged screaming and kicking back to The Falklands, probably on the Oily Flight where we will be in chains in the hold, to spend the summer there.
Then we shall have to spend the summer planning our next escape from the brutal opressors.
Dont let the monkeys (RG'S) get u down
No you didn't escape, like many kelpers you live most of the year in Europe, until Mike got jeaulos.
The Islanders want to talk. But at the UN in June, President Kirchner refused to even touch the letter inviting her to sit down and talk with the Islanders.
The fact is Kirchner doesn't really want to talk. She knows that the Islanders would immediately declare independence if Argentina ever took over. In any case, there are far more votes in bullying the Islanders.
If you want to talk to our Queen you must become an independent nation and not be associated BOT of any second class country.
Sorry is the way it is...
Long life to Queen Cristina and god Odin please forgive barbarian colonialist for their wrong doing. After all none can blame them to be inferiors and retarded it is just human nature.
Just, brilliant.
You obviously have not been in the Falkland Islands during summer, when it gets hot with skin peeling sunshine.
It's not that cold when you get used to it, only for people visiting from warmer latitudes, and if it's cold, simple- more clothes do the trick.
@16
“cannot talk with second tier citizens”.
Second tier citizens? Errrm no. They have their own government and their education is better than Argentinas, with a little help from UK educational institutions like UK Universities, that make Argentina's look like kindergartens.
“After all none can blame them to be inferiors and retarded it is just”
Not retarded, as 3000 Islanders run their country better than 40,000,000 run Argentina. That's why they attract investment and Argentina, doesn't, except from the Chav, (no-one else trusts the Argentine government).
CFK, Timmerman at al however are your retards as they regularly embarrass Argentina on the world stage, and a new recreational activity for the Falkland Islanders might be (please confirm if true, Falkland Islands people?) laughing at the comedy show that is the Argentine government at present, (ie presenting a rehashed ancient jet trainer that couldn't even spit on the Bae Hawk, as a serious military asset-AND calling it 'Pamper,' a babies diaper)!
“If you want to talk to our Queen you must become an independent nation and not be associated BOT of any second class country.”
It's a good idea Dany, that they become independent, as the Falklands would rapidly become an economic sh**hole if Argentina ran the Islands.
Why would they (FIs) need to speak to CFK?
It is in Argentina's interests to talk to the Falkland Islands, not the other way round, as Argentina has nothing to offer the Falkland Islanders other than a tourist destination.
But that's all, and the Falkland Islanders have plenty of alternatives to Argentina as a tourist destination.
Sorry, Dany as you say, that's the way it is.......
But thank you for your great concern.
“ie presenting a rehashed ancient jet trainer that couldn't even spit on the Bae Hawk, as a serious military asset-AND calling it 'Pamper,' a babies diaper”
The Pampa is a cheap training jet with excellent features, stable and manoeuvrability. And also can be armed with bombs, 30mm cannon, rocket launchers and missiles.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argentine_IA-63_Pampa.JPEG?uselang=es
Nice low-pass isn’t it?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGRa-h0w_n4
Watch this low pass with a L-29 ha ha
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfn6ZUBs9po
Impressive flying for sure, but it it had a Hawk following it the Pampa (pamper), would be a dead duck.
As a trainer it isn't bad but not up to the Hawk's standard as evidenced by the many countries who have bought the Hawk.
But Argentines being prats, associate their illegal claim over the Falkland Islands with a Pampa demo-still need to refer to history correctly instead of repeating peronist propaganda originating from association with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
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