Carnival is now in full swing with a series of those awesome events that make Cayman jump and wine.
It all begins on Friday, 4 May with the ever-engaging Carnival Friday. Soak up the sights and sounds of the annual Cayman Carnival Batabano presented by LIME street fete in downtown George Town where the unparalleled skills of Oscar B take the stage.
“Cayman is his second home,” says Donna Myrie of the Batabano committee. “We are welcoming him back and taking him to the streets where he truly belongs. A carnival entertainer, Oscar B will be leading the party for the free street fete.” Of course, there is food, drink, and a great time.
“Cayman is in for a treat,” she says. “This happens only once a year so no excuses.”
Batabano
The main event – Cayman Carnival Batabano – is on Saturday, 5 May with the famous parade beginning at 3pm.
It’s billed as a kaleidoscope of music, dance and pageantry – a celebration of life, no less. Entertainment includes stilt walkers, acrobats, female fire-eaters, limbo dancers and, of course, the mightily impressive parade of mas bands, floats, costumes and all the rest that we have come to know and love about Cayman’s own carnival.
“Every spectator is a participant,” Donna says. “Each costume, each band represents the state of the economy, the environment, satire, wealth – each has a meaning, a concept. The energy you will feel as an onlooker is memorable in itself. You will hear the lyrics of the songs as each band passes and that will dictate your movements; everyone reacts to the music.
“And that is what carnival is about: Music, aroma of the food, the colour, excitement, the masquerade. Embrace the moment, hold it close and enjoy it.”
Wise words indeed. The parade begins at Marquee Plaza, travelling down West Bay Road and ending on Cardinall Avenue, which really ought to be renamed Carnival Avenue for this one day.
“Our slogan is All Nations, One Celebration. It embraces all cultures and invites all to participate with us in a true celebration of life.
“All cultures who have formed a band, we embrace them.” Testament to that is the local cuisine with more than 20 local vendors dishing up island fare from noon to midnight, and the Art in the Heart set-up where local art and craft vendors sell and showcase artwork and crafts in a village-style setting throughout the day. It’s in Celebration Park from noon to around 6pm and Batabano shirts and souvenir programmes will be on sale to help make the day memorable.
As the celebrations go on into the evening with local bands and Oscar B, the flavour and magic of the event truly comes to the fore. And whilst politicians may philander, flip-flop and show themselves to be fool-fool, whilst the economy may crash, crunch and crumble, one thing is for certain, says Donna.
“Unifying everyone at a time when the world is feeling a recession is vital; we invite the country to come out and release stress, participating in this fantastic carnival.”
Never a truer word said. Friends, let’s reclaim the streets.
Batabaview
Upload your own exciting video coverage of your carnival experience to the Batabano Facebook page for a chance to win an Olympus camera from Cathy Church.
Still to come …
Friday, 25 May
The Last Lap (Last Hurrah)
A Carnival Village at Spotts Dock will host an extravagant event featuring music, dance, food, craft making and all Cayman and Caribbean-worthy expressions of the carnival spirit. Expect live performances by bands and top DJs. 9pm
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