SXM Blog

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta Announces Party Venue, Artists and Post-Irma Fundraising Efforts

2/14/2018

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is ready to start! Despite the challenges that Hurricane Irma brought to Sint Maarten a few months ago, in just a few short weeks, the 38th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will be in full swing. The Regatta, known as the largest warm water regatta in the world, is set to take place March 1-4, 2018 and will still host a few thousand visitors to the island’s Caribbean shores. The international and local entertainment acts have been booked and the iconic Heineken event stage will soon be erected. Despite any concerns post-hurricane Irma for fewer registrations, sailors from all around the world have been rushing to enter to race in the Caribbean’s largest sailing event.

This year, there have been some exciting changes to the on-shore party venues. All music events will be hosted from one central location at Princess Port de Plaisance Resort. The large open-air fields at Port de Plaisance allow for the ultimate creative space to bring these high-energy events to life, in a unique festival style.

Thursday, March 1^st, the day of the Gill Commodore’s Cup, officially starts off the regatta festivities with a night of music at Port de Plaisance. Thursday’s theme, Green Sensation, is back once again and will showcase a collaboration of the island’s top four DJs: Cutcreator DJ Outkast, DJ Bossman, DJ Big Boss and DJ Em. This is an interactive DJ set, which allows the audience to “vote” for the next music track.

Friday, March 2^nd, will be a night of exceptional local talent. This event is in partnership with Port St. Maarten to bring the evening of “Re-Discover Sint Maarten” to life. The sounds of the island’s best local and international musicians including Remo & the Barbwire Band, Percy Rankin, What the Funk, Orange Grove, Ziggi Recado, and Patrick Grayham will be featured along with local artisans, groups, and organizations who can showcase and sell their work at the Regatta Marketplace. If you are interested in a booth at the Regatta Marketplace, please contact marketplace@heinekenregatta.com. 

Saturday, March 3^rd, takes the event to “Caribbean Jam”, which will be every Soca music lover’s absolute highlight. What better way to start off the Jam session, than with a SocaRumble segment, featuring Sint Maarten’s top Soca artists? You will be sure to jam the night away, with a performance by Antigua’s Onyan and 3 Cylinder, followed by the headliner of the night, the Soca-sensation from Trinidad and queen of Soca, Destra.

Sunday, March 4^th, the final evening is named “Legendary Party”. The event’s organizers have already announced that Shaggy will be returning to the stage, in what is sure to be an unforgettable performance. Also making a special appearance Sunday night will be JonnyGuy, Natty & The House from Anguilla and St. Maarten’s Youth Waves!

Thursday and Friday evenings will continue to be free to the public. The Saturday night, March 3^rd, will have a $15 admission fee, and the Sunday night, March 4^th will have a $25 admission fee for the general public. Corporate and VIP passes for the night’s concerts are available and include admission to the event, VIP area access, drinks, air-conditioned private restrooms and VIP parking. VIP tickets for Saturday are $75, and Sunday goes for $100 a ticket. The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is also offering special packages for sailors, the so-called Sailor Entertainment Packages. For only $75, competitors in the Regatta receive access to the Sailors lounge at all Concert nights with a fantastic view on stage, including private restrooms and admission for both the Saturday and Sunday night Concert.

A portion of all proceeds will go towards various local charities, such as K1 Britannia, St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, St. Maarten Nature Foundation, and the St. Maarten Yacht Club Regatta Foundation, in assistance of their various hurricane relief projects. Aside from ticket sales, as a fundraising effort to rebuild Sint Maarten, there will be various fundraising activities in the Heineken Regatta Village. A portion of the food & beverage sales, art exhibition sales and much more will also go towards the hurricane relief fund, to be donated to the charities. The Regatta Venue will offer plenty of food and drinks for sale, as well as St. Maarten Heineken Regatta merchandise.

John Leone of International Liquors & Tobacco stated “We are extremely excited to welcome back some familiar faces and some of the most high-energy performers Sint Maarten has ever seen, to the stage this year. This is sure to be a nostalgic and intense line-up, with headliners like none other than Shaggy, Destra, Onyan & 3 Cyliner, Orange Grove, Ziggi Recado, and Patrick Grayham.”

Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday music events can be purchased at all UTS offices, both Van Dorp locations, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Island92 and Kooyman. Concert goers can decide to pay for their event tickets with Fun Miles. Tickets can also be ordered online at the Regatta

website heinekenregatta.com. General admission tickets for the Saturday event are $15 and $25 for the Sunday event. VIP tickets are $75 for the Saturday event and $100 for Sunday. Competitors in the Regatta can buy their Sailor Entertainment Package for $75.

UTS is offering great package deals to its customers including event tickets and top-up. Buy now a Weekender including General Admission for Saturday & Sunday, and $30 UTS top-up for only $45! For only $20 you can buy a Saturday ticket plus $10 top-up, and for $30, you’ll receive a Sunday ticket plus $20 top-up. Go to the UTS store in Philipsburg starting from the end of this week, and make sure you grab your deal. This deal is valid for the first 500 customers, after that, UTS will soon announce its updated packages.

The sole purpose of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is to create an international sailing and music event that highlights the island of Sint Maarten and attracts visitors to the many hotels, restaurants and cultural highlights that this dual nation has to offer.

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

38 years strong and it just keeps getting better. Four days of world-class racing with some of the world’s most seasoned sailors, from more than 35 countries, sailing Maxis, Monohulls and Performance Multihulls to holiday-makers on chartered Bareboats and live-aboard families cruising the Caribbean. Crystal clear waters and cooling northeast trade winds give the pristine conditions for spectacular racing just off the coast of St. Maarten. And with Heineken as title sponsor, the racing days blend seamlessly into four nights of exceptional parties. This event is your bucket list must-do! Come and enjoy life in the Caribbean, come for some Serious Fun from March 1-4, 2018!

For full information on the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, including results, photos, videos, party- and band information, and much, much more, visit www.heinekenregatta.com.

https://heinekenregatta.com/st-maarten-heineken-regatta-announces-party-venue-artists-post-irma-fundraising-efforts/

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