Por José Francisco Ávila
BRONX, NY – January 22, 2026 – The Garifuna community is proud to unveil its official calendar of events for Garifuna Heritage Month 2026, a month-long celebration and commemoration spanning from March 11th to April 12th. This year’s theme, “Echoes of Resilience, Voices of Tomorrow», underscores the community’s rich history, enduring spirit, and vibrant cultural contributions.
Garifuna Heritage Month 2026 will feature a diverse array of events designed to educate, celebrate, and remember. Highlights include solemn observances of key historical milestones, cultural celebrations, and community engagement activities across New York City and virtually.
«Garifuna Heritage Month is a pivotal time for our community to reflect on our journey, honor our ancestors, and celebrate the incredible resilience and vitality of Garifuna culture,» said José Francisco Ávila. «This year’s calendar offers a rich tapestry of events, from historical commemorations to vibrant cultural showcases, ensuring there is something meaningful for everyone to participate in.»
Key Events Include:
- March 11, 2026: Official Garifuna Heritage Month Launch and the 229th Anniversary of the Forcible Deportation of the Garifuna People from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
- March 14, 2026: 231st Anniversary of the Death of Paramount Garifuna Chief Joseph Chatoyer, a revered national hero.
- March 25, 2026: 36th Anniversary of the Happy Land Social Club Fire, marked by an Annual Memorial Mass at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church and a vigil at the Happy Land Memorial Monument in the Bronx.
- April 4, 2026: «Ancestral Flavors: Garifuna Gastronomic Fair,» a celebration of traditional Garifuna cuisine.
- April 11, 2026: «King Joseph Chatoyer, the Garifuna Resistance, and the US: A Musical Tribute» at the Bronx Music Hall.
- April 12, 2026: 229th Anniversary of the Garifuna Settlement in Honduras.
Additional events include memorial walking tours, the launch of «The Garifuna Diaspora Brochure,» public policy discussions, and an awards ceremony. The full calendar offers opportunities for community members and allies to engage with Garifuna history, art, music, and food.
Members of the press are invited to cover these significant events and to learn more about the Garifuna community’s heritage and ongoing contributions.
About the Garifuna Community: The Garifuna people are descendants of indigenous Arawak and Carib people and West Africans, whose culture and language were proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2001. Originating from the island of St. Vincent, the Garifuna were forcibly exiled in 1797, eventually settling along the Caribbean coasts of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and later forming a vibrant diaspora, particularly in the United States.
Official Calendar of Events
This calendar commemorates the enduring spirit, history, and cultural contributions of the Garifuna people. From solemn anniversaries to vibrant celebrations of gastronomy and music, these events honor our ancestors and the living legacy of the diaspora.
Week 1: Foundations of Resistance & Remembrance
- Wednesday, March 11
- Garifuna Heritage Month Launch: Official kickoff of the month-long celebration.
- 229th Anniversary of Forcible Deportation: A solemn remembrance of the deportation of the Garifuna people from St. Vincent and the Grenadines by the British in 1997.
- Saturday, March 14
- 231st Anniversary of the Death of Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer: Honoring the hero and leader of the Garifuna resistance.
- Tuesday, March 17
- Anniversary of the Death of Aurelio Martinez Suazo: A day of reflection on the life and legacy of this influential figure.
Week 2: Legacy in the Diaspora
- Sunday, March 22
- Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour: A guided journey exploring the historical and cultural significance of the Happy Land Social Club site.
- Monday, March 23
- Launch of «The Garifuna Diaspora» Brochure: Official presentation of the new educational resource highlighting our global community.
- Tuesday, March 24
- Garifuna Heritage at 1 Police Plaza: A cultural recognition event held at the NYPD headquarters.
Week 3: The Bronx Remembers
- Wednesday, March 25 | 36th Anniversary of the Happy Land Social Club Fire
- Annual Memorial Mass: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1900 Crotona Pkwy, Bronx, NY 10460
- Vigil: Held at the Happy Land Memorial Monument to honor the 87 lives lost.
Week 4: Perspectives & Flavors
- Thursday, April 2 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Public Policy from a Garifuna Perspective (Virtual): A digital forum discussing community advocacy and political engagement.
- Saturday, April 4 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Ancestral Flavors: Garifuna Gastronomic Fair: A celebration of traditional Garifuna cuisine and culinary heritage.
Week 5: Honors, History & Homecoming
- Friday, April 10
- Garifuna Dinner & Award Ceremony: An evening of recognition at Maestro’s Caterers.
- Voices of Garifuna History: A «Face-to-Face» dialogue featuring Andony Castillo.
- Saturday, April 11
- 8th Anniversary of the Death of Céleo Alvarez Casildo: Honoring the memory of the renowned Garifuna activist.
- King Joseph Chatoyer, the Garifuna Resistance, and the US: A Musical Tribute: Bronx Music Hall, 438 East 163rd Street.
- Sunday, April 12 | 229th Anniversary of Garifuna Settlement in Honduras
- Commemorative Walking Tour: A special edition of the Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour tin partnership with the Bronx County Historical Society.
Related Episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast:
To complement the events on your 2026 Heritage Month calendar, here are several related episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast that dive deeper into the history and themes of your scheduled activities:
Historical Foundations & Resistance
- Episode 4: The Drama of King Shotaway Provides the historical context for the resistance led by Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer (commemorated on March 14) and the defense of St. Vincent.
- Episode 6 – Shaping a Vibrant Future: Celebrating Garifuna Heritage Month As UNESCO reminds us, safeguarding intangible cultural heritage is fundamentally about the transferring of knowledge, skills, and meaning from generation to generation.It’s about ensuring the stories, the rhythms, and the wisdom continue to be transmitted and lived. And that, my friends, is precisely what Garifuna Heritage Month achieves.»
- The Happy Land Memorial Special (Referenced in your recent archives) Specifically covers the significance of the 1990 fire and the history behind your walking tours on March 22 and 25.
Find new episodes of The Garifuna Experience Podcast every Tuesda
UPCOMING PODCAST EPISODES
UPCOMING EVENTS
