The OMV Field in Tafuna is the venue for some of the opening activities of the 2024 Flag Day celebration.
Tomorrow morning is the opening of the Flag Day Flea Market event, and also the Flag Day Farm fair at the OMV Field. Both events will continue until Saturday.
Tomorrow evening at 6 is the opening of the 48th Flag Day Performing Arts Festival which will be held for three nights, also at the OMV Field. The final night, Saturday, will feature performances by the group that will represent American smaoa at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawaii in June.
On Saturday morning, beginning at 8am is the Flag Day parade which will march from OMV to the Veterans Memorial Stadium and will include high school bands, the Marine Band from Kaneohe and the Samoa Police Band.
Then, on Sunday, the Flag Day church service will be held at the Holy Family Cathedral Fatuoaiga at 3pm, led by the leader of the Catholic Church in American Samoa Bishop Kolio Etuale Tumanuvao.
For next week, the 21st Ia Lapo’a Flag Day fishing tournament will begin on Monday. Also on Monday is the cricket tournament championship games at Fagaalu Park.
The most anticipated event of every Flag Day celebration, the fautasi race is scheduled for Tuesday morning, beginning at 7:30am. There will only be one race, no preliminaries. A final meeting of fautasi captains is set for tomorrow morning at which lanes will be drawn.
The nine fautasi competing are Fuao, Paepaeulupoo, Aeto, Iseula o le Moana, Fealofani Samoa, two Manulele Tausala, Lupelele and Matasaua.
Also on Tuesday is an ava ceremony at Su’igaula at 9am, and in the evening is a State Dinner at Lee Auditorium which is by invitation only.
On Flag Day Wednesday, April 17, marching groups will begin gathering at the Veterans Memorial Stadium at daybreak and the official program is set to start at 7:00am with the welcoming, followed by prayers, raising of the flags and Flag Day address by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, before the Pass in Review.
First to perform cultural entertainment is the District of Manu’a, followed by Masefau Village representing the Eastern District and the last to entertain is Leone representing the Western District.
The awarding of prizes will follow the traditional entertainment. There will also be traditional presentations for the guests before closing remarks by Lt. Governor Laapui Talauega Eleasaro Ale and lowering of the flags.
In the evening, ASTCA will stage a drone show and fireworks display at the stadium to conclude the 2024 Flag Day celebration.
