The Fautasi regatta will not be part of the festivities planned for this year's Teuila Festival, according to a tentative programme of the event released to the media this week. 

The festivities for the week-long annual celebration are scheduled to commence on Sunday 3 September 2023 with an opening service and a Teuila Choral Exhibition. 

This is despite an announcement by the Minister of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services a fortnight ago that the fautasi regatta will be one of the main activities for the Teuila festival. 

Faualo Harry Schuster during an interview with Radio Samoa over two weeks ago confirmed that there would be a fautasi race as part of the festivities of the annual festival. 

However, the fautasi regatta is not listed as one of the activities for the Teuila Festival this year, according to the tentative programme. 

The traditional sport made a comeback this year as part of the year-long celebration of the country's 60th Independence anniversary after years of hiatus brought on by the measles epidemic in 2019 and then the COVID-19 pandemic that followed.

The one and only team from the big island of Savai'i won the race in May of this year. 

According to the tentative programme, there will be traditional games, and traditional siva competitions all throughout Teuila week at the Samoan Culture Village which is the main stage for the Teuila Festival. 

The finale of the festivities as usual is the crowning of a new Miss Samoa with some slight changes to the pageant. 

Instead of having a one pageant night, there will be two pageant nights with the first special pageantry categories happening on Wednesday evening. 

The first night for the Digicel Miss Samoa Pageant at the Teuila main stage will include introductions, sarong, and puletasi categories. 

Traditional dances showcase, fun games, and variety shows will continue on Thursday while a float parade will take place on Friday morning followed by the Teuila prize-giving and closing ceremony with entertainment during the night market. 

The finale for the Miss Samoa Pageant will take place on Saturday at Gym 1, Tuana'imato which will include introductions, siva Samoa, talent, traditionally inspired wear, stage interviews and the crowning of the new title holder. 

There are also other activities such as the Teuila International Tag series, and Crossfit Apia Teuila Games.