Carnival to bring jobs as well as fun

| 24/07/2017 | 37 Comments
CNS Business

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

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Category: Employment, Local Business

Comments (37)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Will it be like the winter carnival at Dartmouth? That one is nice.

  2. Anonymous says:

    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…

  3. Anonymous says:

    OMG … he’s horrid at event planning. All hype and no substance. Cannot plan properly ESPECIALLY when it comes to the budget and financing.

  4. Anonymous says:

    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

  5. Anonymous says:

    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.

  6. anonymous says:

    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.

  7. Jimbo says:

    Awesome, ant just think, they won’t even have to bring their own clowns, plenty here already woot woot

  8. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Leslie this will be a memory will never again forget. I cant wait.

  9. Herman Munster says:

    No money, no plan, no location. Don’t stop the carnival.

  10. Anonymous says:

    You all are forgetting one of the Manderson boys stabbed someone at the last carnival we had.

  11. Anonymous says:

    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.

  12. Caymanian says:

    I think it’s a good idea. Kids need things to do.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Will he be offering to pay the cab fare home?

  14. Anonymous says:

    This is so exciting. As a kid, these travelling treats were the best fun!!

  15. Anonymous says:

    So what will $200 spent there get you?

    • Marcia says:

      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.

  16. Blue Man says:

    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.

  17. Anonymously says:

    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

  18. Anonymous says:

    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.

  19. Anonymous says:

    I have so many good memories of this growing up thank you for bringing it back

  20. Anonymous says:

    So freaking excited for me and my kids to go!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please make it affordable Matthew!!!!!!!

  21. AlanP says:

    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.

  22. Anonymous says:

    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!

  23. Anonymous says:

    Wonder if these people will get paid????? That would be my primary concern!

    • Anonymous says:

      yep first thing I was thinking as certain promoters havnt paid staff from the last event.

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