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But, while it is no culture capital, Belize City itself has a good-sized, proud and robust Garifuna community. Monica Bodden found some of them "doing a thing" at a city high school today:

Monica Bodden Reporting

Garifuna Settlement Day marks the arrival of the first Garinagu to Belize - Many Belizeans enjoy traveling to Garifuna communities in southern Belize - to part-take in the festive observance, a mixture of African music and religion with native Carib language and traditions. It is Belize's most richly celebrated cultural observance!

But for those who wish to stay in the City, the National Garifuna Council for Belize City has a list of activities planned for the 19th celebrations - starting off tonight.

Matthew Martinez - President, National Garifuna Council Belize City
"Tonight, we'll be having the all-night drumming and dancing at the Memorial Park. Tomorrow, we'll have the re-enactment at 7 a.m. at the foot of the Belcan Bridge. From there, we'll parade to the Saint Martin's Church for the official thanksgiving mass. That's at 8 a.m. After the mass, we will be parading from Saint Martin's Church to the Memorial Park for the official ceremonies which will start at around 11 a.m. After that, we have the coronation of Miss Garafuna Belize City 2011-2012, Ms. Shamira Magdaleno. From there we have all day "jamming" - all day dancing and singing - festivities at the Memorial Park. So we'd like to invite everybody to come out."

Each year on Garifuna Settlement Day, many reenact what they call the landing - ot the Yurumei - by paddling to shore, waving palm branches and banana leaves to symbolize the cassava that sustained their ancestors. This ritual is rich in music and dance.

Matthew Martinez
"The re-enactment is the arrival of our ancestors to the shores of Belize in 1802, and 1823. And what we usually do is that we have the boats going out into the sea, and paddling back in to shores asking for permission to actually stay in Belize. So we usually do that around 19th morning, very early, and this year, it will be taking place at the Belcan Bridge. It is highly important to keep the Garifuna traditions alive because it is a very rich and dynamic culture. We've been through so much strife and trials, and for us to actually maintain the traditions themselves, is something that is powerful not only for Belize, but powerful to the world itself because, our music, dances and language have travelled so far throughout the world. Most people in the world, now, are trying as much as a possible to study the dynamics of the Garifuna people."

Everyone is invited to celebrate in the centuries old tradition:

Matthew Martinez
"I wouild like to encourage every individual in Belize City to come out, enjoy with us. Feel free to come to the re-enactment, come and share with us at the mass, and the festivities at the Memorial Park. Our aspirations are expectations are many; let's keep moving forward as a people and a nation."

And even though it isn't the 19th just as yet, many schools take on the opportunity to learn more about the Garifuna culture. One such school is Sadie Vernon High School - which held a cultural day today on the school's compound.

The Ugudani Dance Group from Belize City performed a number of traditional Garifuna dances for the students that included the John Kunu, Punta, Paranda and the Chumba.

Laura Baptist - Principal, Sadie Vernon High School
Through Social Studies, students have learned about the different ethnic groups that make up Belize, and they would often hear that 'Belize is a melting-pot', and so, whenever we have an exhibition, we put out information and display food, language, attire, and artifacts from each ethnic group, they able to se why it is called a 'melting - pot'. We usually invite ethnic dance groups to be a part of our festive day. Just a while, you saw the Ugudani Dancers, and this morning, we had a group from Orange Walk, the Mestizo group, and we also had a presenter from the Creole culture this morning, who did a very good job in explaining the history and the Creole culture."

And while that is what's planned in the city, many will still be heading to Dangriga for the festivities and the Culture Fusion Concert.

The Department of Transport has issued an advisory warning for bus owners to have standby buses to accommodate the travelling public.

The advisory also cautions drivers not to drink and drive and to wear seatbelts.