Carnival events 2012
28,06.2012 - Story by Lyf Compton

 

What most describe as the hottest carnival in the Caribbean kicks off in full on Friday June 29th.
Actions begins on Friday June 29th with persons foing to to Carnival City Victoria Park where they will be entertained by 11 Ragga Soca artistes.

There will also be a live performance from Garfield Spence aka Konshens one of Jamaica's top entertainers. Ragga Soca begins at 9 pm and EC$25 will get you in the show.
Action continues on Saturday June 30th and persons can go to Victoria Park where 14 Mas Bands will compete for the coveted Sylvia Wilson Junior Band of the Year title during the 2012 Junior/Kiddies Carnival competition. Junior Carnival action begins at 1 pm and EC$5 (children) and EC$10 (adults) is the entrance fee.

On Sunday July 1st the Victoria Park is the venue again where seven pan sides will take part in the St. Vincent Electricity Services (VINLEC) Junior Pan Fest. This year VINLEC contributed some EC$35,000 towards this event. This show begins at 5 pm and EC$5 will get you inside the venue.

On Tuesday July 3rd, the Junior Calypso and Junior Soca competitions will be held at Victoria Park. The lads and lasses will compete from from 2.30 pm. EC$5 (children) and EC$10 (adults) will get you in.

On Wednesday July 4th the CDC will hold their soca party '360 Degrees blazing soca' at the Victoria Park. This event will feature artistes 'Swappi', 'Iwer George', Kerwin Dubois, 'Fya Empress', 'Skinny Fabulous' and The Soca Dans among others.

The Steel (Panorama) and Glitter (sections of the Bands) competitions will be held on Thursday July 5th. Seven bands will take part in Panorama while 13 Mas Bands will compete in the Sections of the Bands competition. Tickets for this show are EC$15 while there will a guest performance by Trinidadian soca man Rodney 'Benjai' Le Blanc.

On Friday July 6th, the First Citizens Miss Carival show will be held beginning from 8 pm. This show will see ten regional beauties including Miss SVG 2012 Miss LIME Carice Glasgow competing for the coveted crown. This show will cost patrons EC$35 and EC$45.
Saturday July 7th will see the Soca Monarch show where it is expected that 17 soca bards will compete for the EC$21,000 prize money. This show will cost patrons EC$45.

On Sunday July 8th, 10 Calypsonians will come up against Maxwell 'Tajo' Francis for the National Calypso Crown during Dimanche Gras. This show will also see Mas Bands competing in the King and Queen of the Bands competition.
J'ouvert will be held on the morning of Monday July 9th while the Street Party will be held in the evening of July 9th.
Carnival celebrations come to an end on Tuesday July 10th with 14 Mas Bands competing in Mardi Gras.
Also throughout the Carnival celebrations (Friday June 29th to Tuesday July 10th), there will be various events done by private promoters while street bars will be in full operation.
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Chairman of the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) Dennis Ambrose has revealed that come 2013, the winner of the local soca moarch show will not have automatic entry in the International Soca Monarch show which is held every year in Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking to members of the media this week, Ambrose said that they have been informed that for 2013, "the arrangement in respect of the International Soca Monarch Show would be slightly different, in that the organizers have decided that the winner of the Soca Monarch here, will have automatic entry into the Semi-Finals rather than directly into the finals".
Said Ambrose, "I feel pretty certain that the financial commitment of the CDC would be as we have done in the past - which is to continue to lend our support in this regard".