Carnival Season Now Open!

It is official. The 2015 Carnival season is now open and the revellers and fete lovers now have an open license to party and enjoy the season at will. The official launch of carnival 2015 was held last Sunday at Samaans park and featured a carnival parade of the various costumed bands as well as “live” performances. The event, organized the the Carnival Planning and Management Agency (CPMA) was sponsored by DIGICEL, Piton and Saint Lucia Distillers who are among the main players in this year’s cultural showpiece.

After a number of flops over the last three years, Sunday’s opening drew a large crowd, undoubtedly the biggest the event has seen in about four years. Among the highlights of the evening were performances by Ricky T and Superman HD, Calypsonian and former Monarch Menel, Sedale as well as the Party Monarch Ezra D Fun Machine. Other performers included CJ, Q-Pid, TJ and Arthur.

The launch also featured appearances by contestants in the Gros Islet Carnival Queen Pageant, the Valley Carnival Queen Pageant and the National Carnival Queen Pageant.

Sunday’s launch now paves the way for a busy carnival season including the calypso programme which starts tonight (Saturday May 30) at the National Cultural Centre. Organized by the entity START, the calypso programme will include events on June 3, 19 and 26 (Soca) and June 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 20 (Calypso) with various themed nights. A number of Soca artistes have already unleashed their offerings to the public in a bid to reign supreme in popularity at the many fetes and for a shot at the Power and Groovy Soca Monarch finals.

(photos by Bill Mortley).