CULTURE
KEY EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS n The opening parade is a stunning event where all the queen contestants, Makajumbies (stilt- walkers), and various troupes, cheerleaders, and majorettes, parade through the streets. This parade is free to attend and typically starts around 1pm in the afternoon. n The Emancipation Celebration – highlighting the historical roots of this carnival. n A variety of competitions including the Queen of Carnival Pageant, which always garners significant attention and attendance and the Party Monarch and Calypso Competitions which showcase the musical and lyrical talents of local artists. n There are live music concerts, which in the past have included appearances from our very own soca diva Claudette Peters. n The Panorama is a steel band competition, a great event for the whole family to watch. The steel pan is an integral part of Caribbean music, and these talented musicians get the chance to showcase their skills on this iconic instrument. n T-Shirt Mas is a pre-carnival event that involves participants getting tickets for a particular band they want to party with, then following the float carrying said band, enjoying music, drinks, and food along the way. It’s a fun and relaxed way to kick off the carnival spirit in the week leading up to the main festivities. When you buy a ticket, they will give you the promotional materials for the band you’re following. A media pack including cup, wrist band, glasses, flag, t-shirt, body tattoo. n Jouvert takes place from 2.00am and goes through to 10am. Participants gather at their respective mas camps and then hit the streets to dance with their troupes. Water, powder, and paint are very often part of the revelry. It’s a wild, carefree, spirited atmosphere, and a truly memorable experience for adults, but definitely not suitable for kids. n The Parade of The Bands is the pinnacle of the Antigua Carnival. St. John’s is transformed into a spectacle of vibrant costumes, frenetic dancing, and beautifully decorated floats. Participants and spectators alike come adorned in elaborate and colorful costumes, creating a stunning visual display. It takes place on the penultimate day of the carnival and if you want to really immerse yourself in the festival, you can get involved by joining one of these costumed carnival bands. This is called ‘playing mas’.
F or those of you who are new to carnival or not entirely sure how involved you want to get, and would prefer to be a passive observer, then your best bet would be to watch The Parade of The Bands. Typically the parade commences at approximately 2 o’clock and usually starts behind Mount St John’s Hospital on Queen Elizabeth Highway where there is a large open area for parking cars. From there you can walk down and find a spot (preferably in the shade) in front of Government House on the roadside. There is usually a small spectator stand there and the large open field in front of the Government buildings will give you some flexibility to move back, in case you find the booming reverberations too overwhelming. It is a great spot to enjoy the music and the spectacle in a relaxed environment away from too much hustle and bustle. You could bring a few drinks along, maybe even some folding chairs, and watch the entire procession as it commences and heads into the main capital of St John’s. One advantage of this location is that due to the parking being just outside of the Carnival route, you would be able to leave at any point without obstruction as you will be heading away from the parade and the subsequent roads that have been cordoned off. CARNIVAL FOR BEGINNERS
A variety of competitions including the Queen of Carnival Pageant, which always garners significant attention and attendance and the Party Monarch and Calypso Competitions which showcase the musical and lyrical talents of local artists.
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