Sunset Fair Closing Ceremony for 2010 Season - See you after the rains!

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao presided over the closing ceremony for the Sunset Fair's 2010 season at Kristu Rei on December 17th, with the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry Gil Alves and several other government Ministers in attendance. Sunset Fair Patron Kirsty Sword Gusmao was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her continuing support of the event and the Venture Hotel and the Associacao Empresarial das Mulheres de Timor-Leste were also given awards for their contribution over the past season. 

Boy Clemens topped the bill and the crowds were entertained by traditional dancing groups and a Timorese fashion show. Since its inauguration on September 11th, 2010, the Sunset Fair has become a Dili institution and a firm favourite with the public and the stallholders themselves. We'll be planning the new season - due to kick off after the rains - over the next few months and we already know it'll be bigger and better than last year. Watch this space for news and the announcement of the date of opening night in 2011! Thank you to everyone who took part: stallholders, sponsors, colleagues at MTCI and most of all the public, for making the Sunset Fair such a success. We look forward to meeting up again in a few months. 

The Prime Minister, family and government Ministers in the audience

Timor-Leste's Master of Ceremonies par excellence, Mr Anitu Matos

Dr Gil Alves, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry says a few words 

The Prime Minister and MTCI staff gearing up for presentation of Certificates of Appreciation

"This certificate is awarded to the Associacao Empresarial das Mulheres de Timor-Leste in recognition of its high standards of professionalism in participating in the Sunset Fair".

"This certificate is awarded to the Venture Hotel
in recognition of its contribution to the Sunset Fair’s
entertainment for children, with the installation of the “Bouncy Castle”.
 Secretary of State for Culture Virgilio Smith delivers the certificate.

Sunset Fair Patron Kirsty Sword Gusmao says a few words after receiving her certificate of appreciation
 for her work in support of the event

Boy Clemens performing at closing night (above) as young fans boogie (below) to the Sunset Fair's anthem: "Areia Branca".
We hope he'll be back later this year for the new season.

Sunset Fair sponsors Valsa Productions film the action for their piece on Timor-Leste "Contacto"

A great night at the Sunset Fair... Boy Clemens, MAC Criancas Unidas and a surprise visit from the Prime Minister

Boy Clemens performed at the Sunset Fair's opening night in September and this week he came back for an encore. But this time, when he sang the Sunset Fair anthem "Areia Branca", the crowd sang along with him. This great song has been getting a lot of exposure lately. Boy also had some backing vocals from the Timorese childrens' choir, MAC Criancas Unidas, who were rehearsing with Boy for a concert that is being organised by UNESCO in Dili this Friday.

The picture shows Boy Clemens at keyboards, with MAC Criancas Unidas, as the Sunset Fair Patron, Kirsty Sword Gusmao looks on. Kirsty is also Chair of the National UNESCO Commission (amongst other things) and is the wife of the Timor-Leste Prime Minister (standing at the back, beard and khaki shirt), Xanana Gusmao.

Meanwhile, Kirsty (and the Prime Minister) were being followed by a film crew who are making a fly-on-the-wall documentary about her life and work. In turn, they were being followed by me and other members of the public taking photos of the whole thing.

Kirsty clowns with the film crew and takes a stroll with her husband during a break in the filming

It was a good night, with plenty of delicious food, great music and only one very quick rain shower. We were happy to welcome the One More Bar back to the Fair. Gill has become a favourite with FairGoers, for his excellent sausages. He now has a new partner, Rob, who calls himself the Wurst Meister: he makes a big range of different types of sausages and cures his own bacon.

 Rob and Gill show off their sizzling sausages

There were a couple of Sunset Fair first-timers, selling BBQ chicken.... and religious statues. 

A beautiful sunset....

The ever-popular bouncy castle...

Opportunities for some early Christmas shopping...

A chance to catch up with friends....

Grab a bite to eat...

... and to welcome back a Sunset Fair friend and sponsor, Boy Clemens

Don't forget, next week the Sunset Fair moves to Fridays.... starting November 26th through to closing night on December 17th.  TGI Friday!

KIRSTY SWORD GUSMAO BECOMES PATRON OF THE SUNSET FAIR (FEIRA LOKRAIK)

The Dili Sunset Fair Organising Committee is delighted to announce that Kirsty Sword Gusmao has agreed to become the Patron of the event.

Ms. Sword Gusmao said that she was looking forward to participating in the project: “I am happy and proud to be associated with the Sunset Fair (Feira Lokraik), a significant initiative on the Timor-Leste tourism calendar and a unique forum for the promotion and show-casing of our nation's natural beauty and man-made riches. The Sunset Fair offers an exciting glimpse of the diversity of sights, sounds, tastes, cultures and influences that make up our small but beautiful young nation” 

Ms. Sword Gusmao, who is the wife of Prime Minister Xanana Kay Rala Gusmao, is a Goodwill Ambassador for Education, Chairperson of the UNESCO National Commission for Timor-Leste and Chairwoman of the Alola Foundation,  (http://www.alolafoundation.org/), which has become one of Timor-Leste’s most effective  NGOs, engaging in an impressive range of activities in maternal and child health, education, and in empowering women through advocacy and livelihoods initiatives.

The Alola Foundation will have a handicrafts stall at the Sunset Fair,  which runs every Wednesday evening from October 6th to December 15th from 5pm to 10pm at Kristu Rei Beach in Dili, Timor-Leste.

Ms Sword Gusmao explained that events like the Sunset Fair can have far-reaching positive effects on the country as a whole:  “Tourism development benefits all sectors of our society, but particularly women given the vital role they play in the hospitality, service and handicraft industries. And livelihoods for women translate into good health for families, education for children, a brighter future for us all!"