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local Saturday 6 January 2024

The Torch Parade is back!

The first parade of the Carnaval season

(Oranjestad)—Carnaval season is back on
this year and Aruba is celebrating its 70th edi-
tion of Carnaval with a bang! Officially having
begun on November 11th 2023, this Carnaval
season starts off with the spectacular Torch Pa-
rade (Fakkel); a night-time parade filled with
lights, music and fun!

Historically, Fakkel consisted of a parade rade walkers sporting an electric torch, com- their hand…filled with water, of course!
with people carrying actual flamed torches pleted with a group “uniform”. These uniforms This year’s Fakkel Parade takes places tonight
around. However, in the modern version of are mostly personally-designed T-shirts sporting in the Down-Town area of Oranjestad. When
the parade, groups and parade walkers opt the names and themes of the year’s Carnaval you actually get to see the parade pass by
for a safer and sustainable method; electric groups participating in the Carnaval season. depends where on the side of the road you
torches! T-shirts are mostly decorated with glitter, se- are sitting. But don’t worry, chat up with some
quence, cut-outs or even more light. You may of the locals while you’re waiting for the show!
That’s right, during Fakkel you mainly see pa- also spot everyone carrying a light-up cup in q

Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Museums are an The Water Tower was purchased
integral part of conserving and by the Monuments Fund in 2003 so
honoring cultures, and Aruba is no it can be restored and preserved
exception. Our Island has a wide as one of Aruba's monuments. The
selection of various museums for Museum of Industry is part of Aruba
our locals and visitors to see. Take Museum Foundation (Fundacion
this opportunity to learn about our Museo Aruban), which is a founda-
island and experience a different tion set to maintain, preserve, and
day beyond the beach. Let us in- protect the Aruban cultural sector,
troduce to you these museums. history, and nature. The museum of
Industry is open daily from 9 am till Oranjestad. ban Government and the Union of
Museum of Industry Aruba 6 pm. Cultural Organizations (UNOCA),
The Museum of Industry is located For more information, check out These historical buildings were for- opened in July 2009.
in San Nicolas—better known as their Facebook page Museum of merly the property of the Ecury
the art capital of Aruba. This mu- Industry Aruba. family. The “Ecury Complex”, is a At the new location, the National
seum exhibits the industrial history cluster of single and two-story his- Archaeological Museum Aruba
of gold, aloe, phosphate, oil and Archaeological Museum of Aruba toric buildings, mainly Dutch colo- disposes of approximately 500 m2
tourism through elaborated dis- The Archaeological Museum of nial architecture from the late 19th for its permanent exhibit. This exhib-
plays and multimedia installations. Aruba is located at Schelpstraat 42 and 20th century on a plot of ap- it conveys information on the origin
The Museum of Industry is situated in downtown Oranjestad. The reno- proximately 1.700 m2. and culture of the first inhabitants
in the Water Tower in San Nicolas vated historic Ecury complex in the of the island through archaeologi-
and narrates Aruba's industrial his- area has been transformed from a In 1997, the Aruban Government cal objects and modern exhibition
tory, which began in the 19th cen- family home to a modern museum bought the complex for the Na- techniques. The new permanent
tury. The Water Tower was built in that preserves Aruba’s Amerindian tional Archaeological Museum exhibit gives the visitor an insight
1939 and consists of three sections: cultural heritage. This 21st century project. In 2004, a financial agree- into the cultures that inhabited the
the substructure, the high-rising ver- museum is especially designed to ment was signed with the Europe- island in Pre-Historical and Early
tical shaft, and the tank at the top. preserve valuable artifacts dating an Development Fund and in 2006, Historical times. The museum also
back to the Pre-Ceramic period of restoration and construction work hosts attractive public programs,
2500 BC. began on the monumental build- including lectures, educational
ings and the soon-to-be exhibition projects, temporary exhibits and
In the late 1980’s, AMA identified its space. In December 2007, the key workshops.
need for an adequate housing for to the complex was delivered and
its collection and activities. After the museum’s employees moved The museum is open daily from
studying various options, a project to the new location. The final de- 9:30 am till 4:30 pm. For more infor-
proposal was drawn up, including sign for the exhibit was completed mation check out the Facebook
the acquisition and restoration of in November 2007 and the perma- page Museo Arqueologico Nacio-
historical buildings in downtown nent exhibit, financed by the Aru- nal Aruba.q