Within hours after a Facebook page was set up for the 6th Annual Boardwalk Mas, hundreds of people responded positively to the invitation to the island’s fastest-growing traditional and folkloric fete with a twist of modern artistic expressions.
The event will be held at the Great Bay Promenade (The Boardwalk) from 5:00PM – 10:00PM, Saturday, May 15, 2010.
Commenting on how quickly the Boardwalk Mas has caught fire on Facebook, Regina LaBega, Director of Tourism said, "The whole island has embraced this social networking service with such enthusiasm that it would be unwise to ignore it in our bid to reach as wide a cross-section of the community as possible for this unique event designed for the entire family."
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau is the organizer of The Boardwalk Mas, conceived as a celebration of St. Martin traditional festive and parade culture. The Boardwalk Mas is one of the concrete activities born out of the Tourism Master Plan (TourMap), which was created for the enjoyment of the island’s people and to offer visitors an original St. Martin experience.
About 300 Facebook respondents have indicated that they will surely attend this year’s Boardwalk Mas or are likely to do so. Many who live abroad or who will not be on the island on that date have expressed regrets but are encouraging family members and friends to enjoy it "on their behalf."
More than 30 groups and individual artistes have signed up for this year’s event, which begins with a parade that culminates in a stage performance at the Square in front of the Courthouse.
The Boardwalk Mas is coordinated on behalf of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, by Offshore Editing Services, a division of House of Nehesi Publishers Foundation. The parade manager Urmain Dormoy can be contacted at 542-2337, for groups and individual artists wishing to participate in the parade or concert of the Boardwalk Mas.