Carnival to bring jobs as well as fun
Cayman Carnival is returning this winter
(CNS Business): With a trip down memory lane for many local people and a new experience for others, local businessman Matthew Leslie is promising to bring all the fun of the fair to Cayman at the end of this year as well as jobs and businesses opportunities. Leslie said he is in the process of working with US company Midway Carnivals to bring the winter carnival back for some seven weeks from the end of November. And while it is all about the fun, there will be work for Caymanians during the near two month tour, as well as a chance for small vendors to take advantage of the opportunity.
It has been more than two decades since the fair last came to town but those who still remember the winter carnivals of years gone by, with rides such as the Gravitron, the Twister and the Viper, are excited to hear that the fair will be back this year.
Leslie said the carnival will feature those familiar roller coasters, as well as other rides and attractions, music food and entertainment. After dropping hints recently on Facebook, he said he was overwhelmed by the response so he has been working full steam ahead to make it happen.
“Bringing back the Cayman Winter Carnival and Music Festival is something positive for Cayman,” he said, “It’s just the event we need after all the negativity and bashing that’s been going around.”
Leslie, who failed in his bid to win a seat in Prospect in the recent election, added, “It’s something that will bring young and old together.”
He said that older Caymanians seemed to be more excited that the youngsters because they remember the fair. “There is real nostalgia for it because it was something that people really looked forward to each year. It’s fantastic to be bringing it back,” he said.
Leslie explained that the carnival firm will need to bring expert technicians to construct, manage and operate the rides but there will still be jobs for locals and certainly lots of opportunities for small businesses, entertainers and local artisans.
“I want to make sure we get local people involved,” he said. “It will be the Christmas season and a lot of people are still out of work.”
He said people will be needed for ticket sales, concession booths, game assistants, general workers, drivers, production assistants, food and beverage servers, bartenders, electricians and many more. The more people who can get involved the better, he said, enabling Cayman to build up a store of local workers that are available for more events throughout the year because he want to organise more major events, from boxing tournaments to street carnivals.
It’s not yet certain where the fair will be located but it is likely to be in George Town. The fair will need a suitable site that can accommodate rides, like the 100-ft Mega Drop ride and The Claw. Leslie said that the location, ticket pricing and early bird ticket outlets will be announced soon.
Anyone who wants to get involved should contact Leslie on Matthew@together.ky
Category: Employment, Local Business
Will it be like the winter carnival at Dartmouth? That one is nice.
I think this is a good idea! At least Mr. Leslie is looking out for his Caymanians, and I think we should all stop bringing him down with our negativity…
OMG … he’s horrid at event planning. All hype and no substance. Cannot plan properly ESPECIALLY when it comes to the budget and financing.
this is why cayman is the way it is now. too much mad minded and selfish people any caymanian trying something positive they try to knock them but sit and talk how this place is gone this that and the other when they see a spike in robbery or thief smh you all narrow minded crab in a buck mentally ill people need to wake up and realize if you don’t hurry and try to get things around or society for the young generation to do you your self and your big mouths could be the next victim of a idled handed curious youngin
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4734048/One-dead-six-injured-ride-malfunction-Ohio-fair.html
You couldn’t pay me any amount of $ to go on one of these rides.
Great idea, and thank you, Leslie. I recall the last events from the eighties. My only concern is that the Dart entity might have a hand in it, in which case I’ll give it a miss as I consider them to be an aggressive malignancy within our society.
Awesome, ant just think, they won’t even have to bring their own clowns, plenty here already woot woot
Thank you Leslie this will be a memory will never again forget. I cant wait.
Yes, this is an idea full of love. And cuddles.
No money, no plan, no location. Don’t stop the carnival.
You all are forgetting one of the Manderson boys stabbed someone at the last carnival we had.
Oh giving the target demographic, a basic level of gun and knife crime was assumed.
I think it would be nice to bring it back to Cayman so our children and grandchildren can have some fun and we would not have to take them overseas, and beside in Christmas we will have something to do and also school would be close.
Apparently you can do what you want for $200 and a taxi fare.
That joke got old now… is not as funny anymore.
No, it will stay funny for a long long time.
Call me old fashioned if you will, but what old joke?
I think it’s a good idea. Kids need things to do.
If it keeps the poor ones away from Camana Bay for a bit then that is a bonus.
Will he be offering to pay the cab fare home?
This is so exciting. As a kid, these travelling treats were the best fun!!
So what will $200 spent there get you?
STOP IT hater. Mr. Leslie is no longer running for office and is going about his business, leave him alone. XXXXX
This is something good for the island and hopefully everyone will enjoy themselves, and there will be no stabbimgs and some poor hateful and envious Caymanians will make a few dollars for the holidays while they try to destroy this young Caymanian businessman.
It saddens me to read all the hateful comments of some of the expats on the island but at the same time I have to agree with most of what is expressed. Caymanians are such hyprocrites and they enjoy tearing other Caymanians down. To the few good Caymanians left, please don’t be offended.
This man has done quite a number of jobs over the years for people which you could assume was due to his hope of running in the election. Though I would question how a businessman would work in politics. Perhaps Tourism?
Having lost, I think this allows him to giveback in a selfless way.
I like Matthew. I thought he was being unfairly judge by voters … he is a human being just like the rest of politicians. Too bad he was no match for Austin
How many incidents of black mob violence have shut down carnivals or festivals around the world, just this summer not to count all the past incidents. OK, but you were warned.
You need psychiatric help, friend. Try and obtain it asap. Thank you.
I have so many good memories of this growing up thank you for bringing it back
So freaking excited for me and my kids to go!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please make it affordable Matthew!!!!!!!
Me too….so much clean fun!!
Yeah Cayman needs this.
I wish this island was turned into a posh retreat for those with money who want peacefully re-charge their batteries away from the noise, pollution, crowds and cheap entertainment.
Camana Bay is OK for that, especially if the patrols keep the poor children away.
Maybe Dart could help out again. He’s really looking out for us and he’s the only one that owns any space large enough to accommodate it.
Yea!
Is he a Santa or a charity?
Wonder if these people will get paid????? That would be my primary concern!
yep first thing I was thinking as certain promoters havnt paid staff from the last event.