The sights, sounds, splendor, color and spectacle that is Saint Lucia Carnival will be on display come June 3rd as the island’s premiere cultural showpiece officially opens.
The duty free berthing facility, Pointe Seraphine, nestled in the heart of the Capital Castries, will provide the backdrop for the much anticipated opening of the 2012 carnival season, which is expected to draw hundreds of spectators and scores of revelers.
A host of soca heavyweights like Power Soca and Road-March Monarch Ricky T, combined with calypso giants: reigning Monarch Minelle and four-time Monarch D-Indaver, will perform a medley of old and new selections for the 2012 season.
Some fifteen (15) senior and junior carnival bands like Rituals, Just 4 Fun, Cozy Guzzlers, Royalties X-Treme, St. Lucian Spirits, Red Unlimited, Dynamic Kids, Toxik Nation and XS Neo among others, will display their 2012 theme portrayals.
Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industry Minister Lorne Theophilus says, “Much effort is being expended to ensure the delivery of an exciting and high quality 2012 carnival product. The Select Committee of Stakeholders has been retained to oversee activities and the island’s lead marketing and promotions agency—the Saint Lucia Tourist Board—continues to vigorously promote the event overseas.”
To date over a dozen full-costume carnivals band have announced their theme portrayals and have formally launched, registering thousands of revelers for the upcoming street parade in on July 16th and 17th throughout the city circuit.
Several calypso tents are also expected to open their doors to patrons and calypso enthusiasts in coming days.
Among the main carnival events are:
June 3rd 2012
Official Launch of Carnival Pointe Seraphine
June 27th 2012
Groovy Soca Preliminaries Spinners
June 29th 2012
Party Monarch Preliminaries Spinners
July 1st 2012
Calypso Semi Finals
July 7th 2012
National Carnival Queen Show National Cultural Centre
July 8th 2012
Junior Carnival TBA
July 10th 2012
Inter Commercial House National Cultural Centre
July 12th 2012
King & Queen of the Bands and Groovy Soca Monarch TBA
July 13th 2012
Panorama BCG
July 14th 2012
Party Monarch BCG
July 15th 2012
Calypso Monarch BCG
July 17th 2012
Carnival Parade
July 18th 2012
Carnival Parade
Sunday’s opening is priced at $20 adults and $10 for children 5–12 years. Children under 5 years old are free. Show time is 3pm.
