New Amsterdam’s Town Day 2025 has been hailed as a success, recording a surplus of more than $1.8 million and introducing several first-time activities that broadened the scope of the annual celebrations beyond the traditional street festivities. Town Day 2025 was part of a larger week of activities in November marking the town’s 134th anniversary. The highlight of the celebrations was a street fair held on 22 November 2025. The launch of Town Day activities took place on 24 October 2025, under the theme “Green and Tourism-Driven.”
Other events during the period included an Auto Expo, Car & Bike Show and Vehicle Sound Clash. Reviewing the event at a press conference on Monday, Mayor Wainwright McIntosh praised the Town Day 2025 Committee, led by Deputy Mayor Kirk Fraser, for what he described as exceptional teamwork, accountability and transparency in executing the calendar of activities. “In spite of many challenges, the team went above and beyond. What I am most happy about is that the committee understood the assignment and the importance of accountability and transparency,” Mayor McIntosh said, while announcing that Town Day 2025 ended with a surplus in excess of $1.8 million. The achievements of Town Day 2025 stand in sharp contrast to the 2024 celebrations, which generated limited revenue and left little room for community projects. Speaking at the launch of Town Day 2025 two months ago, Deputy Mayor Fraser acknowledged that the previous year’s activities yielded $186,000, funds which he said were insufficient to undertake any meaningful projects on their own. He explained that lessons learnt from 2024 directly shaped the planning and execution of this year’s celebrations.
“We learned from what would have taken place in the past. That is why this year we took on a more modest, cost-effective operation, so that the money we expend can be better used to benefit the general citizenry of New Amsterdam,” Fraser said.
Those lessons resulted in earlier planning, a restructured committee, fewer costly ceremonial elements and stronger engagement with corporate New Amsterdam factors that ultimately translated into a longer, more diverse list of activities and stronger financial returns.
Meanwhile at Monday’s press conference, Mayor McIntosh highlighted several signature events that debuted in 2025, including a food festival, which he confirmed will now become an annual feature. For the first time, schools were formally integrated into the celebrations, making the event “historical in origin,” he noted. Educational activities, including a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM) competition, were among what the Mayor described as “first-of-its-kind” initiatives for the town. These were supported by the Ministry of Education, along with participation from institutions such as the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, the Department of Public Health, and private-sector partners. On the sporting front, football and basketball competitions drew strong participation and enthusiasm, with the basketball finals described as electrifying. The Mayor said these activities showcased local talent as well as reinforced the inclusive nature of the celebrations.
Deputy Mayor Fraser had earlier noted that profits from Town Day activities are intended to flow directly back to residents. He pointed to previous examples, such as funds from a football match being used to rehabilitate a kiddies’ corner, and outlined plans to channel proceeds from 2025 into upgrades at the Esplanade football field, including lighting. The longer-term vision, he said, is to move activities away from public roadways into designated spaces that are safer, easier to manage, and less disruptive to livelihoods. While celebrating the successes of 2025, Mayor McIntosh acknowledged challenges, including the shifting of event dates due to security considerations and clashes with other major regional activities, which affected some visitors, particularly from the diaspora. To avoid a repeat, he announced that planning for Town Day 2026 has already begun, with the calendar of activities to be released early to allow visitors and stakeholders to plan. He also issued a renewed call for greater public-private partnership, urging corporate entities operating in New Amsterdam to play a more active role in future celebrations. “We want to better showcase New Amsterdam as a tourism destination and return it to being the place to be for family-oriented, fun-filled activities,” the Mayor said.
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