Carnival Checklist: Antigua Carnival, 101

Words by Donna-Marie McIntosh
Photo by Andy E. Williams

Antigua Carnival is an experience within itself and, although officially Wadadli carnival takes place over ten days from July 25th to August 4th, the numerous fetes leading up to the summer festive season begin as early as April. Antigua is an island steeped in its own culture, traditions and style of celebration: From the food, to the music, to the spontaneity of the masqueraders, down to the non-stop fetes and events, it truly has its own dynamic and unique way of celebrating emancipation.

If you are fortunate enough to be on the island during the Carnival season, you will definitely be spoiled for choice in terms of activities and nightlife. With literally only hours to go before the official Antigua carnival countdown begins, let’s explore all the fun that can be had in the heart of town, at the Antigua Recreation Grounds (dubbed as “Carnival City”), in St. John’s, and show you how to be a professional reveler.

The 2015 edition of Antigua Carnival has a slightly different flavor from the days of old. The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission has put a brand new spin on things, introducing some new events and blowing the dust off of some of the staples, re-branding and breathing new life into the original concepts.

Let’s delve into the Carnival Checklist for Antigua, and show you where you need to be during “The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival.”

Start here.

Pre-Game: Friday, July 24th

Photo: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

GLOW PARADE CEREMONY: NIGHT OF STARS
Friday is the last night before the official opening parade of Carnival, and there are a lot of options for revelers ready to start celebrating. Crowds of onlookers will see a parade circumnavigate around St. John’s and lead into Carnival City, with the reigning Road March King and Junior Calypso Monarch, Queen of Carnival 2014, winner of Teen Explosion 2014, as well as steel bands, dancers and majorettes, and floats decked out in twinkling lights. Floats leave from Carnival City at 6:30pm, and begin the procession for the Carnival Glow Party.

VINTAGE: THE EVOLUTION
Vintage is an all-inclusive food and drinks fete for those who have a love and a passion for a good-old, back-in-the-day kind of party. No isms, just good vibes, keeping the heart and soul of calypso and soca alive. The night will see performances from local and regional favorites such as Scrunter, Tian Winter, Swallow, Menace and Sparrow. The party kicks off at 8pm at Splash Antigua, Fort James. This fete is all about good music, clean fun, mingling and remembering those who have paved the way for the musical youth of today.

BACCHANAL – FREE DRINKS FETE
Bacchanal is a fete that’s been around for years, however, there was a hiatus during 2014, giving the promoters the opportunity to carefully plan for this year and re-brand. This year, the fete will be hosted in a venue that has never been used for any form of party in the past, Grand Bay Casino in Dickenson’s Bay—Bacchanal will truly christen the grounds. And, as the name suggests, there will be free drinks all night long. There’s no live performances for the night, but there will be a multitude of renowned local DJs on site. When there is a DJ fete in Antigua, every genre of music is played, and every individual’s musical tastes are catered to. The night has been dubbed “Bacchanal and a Million Gyal,” so be sure to fill your drink up and get your wink up throughout the night.

BURNING FLAMES REUNION
Formed in 1984, the Burning Flames are Antigua’s best known band, famed for hits like “Island Girl,”  “Workey Workey” and “Jam Um In De Iron Band.” The group really does not need any introduction as band members, King Onyan, Bubb-I, Oungku and Foxx, are legendary across the Caribbean and the globe. Some controversy caused them to disband a few years back, however the saying “time heals all wounds” is definitely correct in this circumstance as the band laid all issues to rest on Friday, July 17th, and reunited to give Antigua its concert of the decade. The event had reams of spectators, supporters and fans enjoying and celebrating the reunion until the sun broke on the following Saturday morning. With such great feedback and reviews, the band has decided to reunite again at local venue, The Lion’s Den, to mark the opening of Carnival. This night should be no different to the first reunion, in offering great music, an electric atmosphere, and forever memories. The show begins at 11pm, and considering how many hit songs the Burning Flames have, they may still be playing well into the next Saturday afternoon to bring in the opening parade of carnival. As we say in Antigua, “if it’s nice, do it twice!”

Carnival Starts: Saturday, July 25

Photo: Alex Rhodes

T-SHIRT MAS
The day that everybody has been counting down towards and waiting for, T-Shirt Mas marks the official start to a 10-day festival that will require stamina, a supple waist, comfortable footwear and an open mind. Several mas troupes will be donning their branded t-shirts and setting out with their truck on the road, playing the latest soca music, lubricating their palates with food and drink, and what we like to call “winking”—wining up. The procession begins in the afternoon, takes several laps around the city of St. John’s, and comes to a close late in the evening in the heart of town where all revelers gather, and close the night with more dancing. The fun does not stop!

Fruit + Pageantry: Sunday, July 26-Monday, July 27

THE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA MANGO FESTIVAL (Sunday + Monday)
Celebrating its 10th year, the Antigua and Barbuda Mango Festival is a must for all those who love this fragrant and fleshy fruit. The festival, which takes place at the Botanical Gardens over two days on Sunday and Monday, July 26 and 27, will feature mangoes in all forms of the fruit and also ways in which to utilise mangoes, such as jams, sauces and peppers. Prizes and awards will be received by the winners and participants of the Mango Pineapple Culinary Competition. which was held at the start of July. Individuals attending will have the chance to sample some mangoes and participate or witness mango eating competitions. As well as live music on both days, there will be mango plants available for purchase, and face painting and a bouncy castle available to entertain the kids.

JAYCEES QUEEN SHOW (Sunday)
This year marks the 54th edition of the Jaycees Queen show: Eight intelligent, beautiful and poised delegates from across the Caribbean will elegantly battle each other for the Jaycees crown. The contestants will be judged on four categories, including the crowd-favoured sections of swimwear and evening wear. The reigning Jaycee’s Queen, hails from St. Kitts, however your guess is as good as mine in regards to who will claim the crown this year. The competition will be stiff and this year, and one lucky audience member will have the chance of winning a BMW. Jaycees Queen Show is aimed at “Empowering Women Through Pageantry” and this has got to be one of the most beautiful and entertaining empowerment sessions an individual can witness.

THE SOURCE + SCOTIA BANK TEEN XPLOSION  (Monday)
This competition features twelve contestants from eight schools competing in performing arts, personal achievements, a research presentation and a question and answer segment. This pageant is aimed at both males and females from a mixture of local educational institutes and is a forum for schools in Antigua and Barbuda to showcase students who have an interest in performing arts and are interested in training to assist their educational, elocutionary and social development. This pageant is credited with “breeding” youth ambassadors within Antigua and Barbuda.

Fetes + More: Tuesday, July 27-Wednesday, July 30

Photo: Alex Rhodes

ESCAPE: THE ALL INCLUSIVE FETE (Tuesday)
Escape is a new addition to the Antigua festival scene. Although the fete is young in relation to many of the other carnival activities, it is definitely arriving into the arena full of weight in terms of entertainment value. The night begins at 9pm within Carnival City and five free drinks are included in the price of your ticket purchase (available in both regular admission or VIP, which comes at a slight marginal extra cost). Live performances on the night will be from artistes Beenie Man, Dexta Daps, Destra Garcia, Ricardo Drue, MnM Music and Zan, with music provided by DJ Merchy and DJ Flex.

LIAT WADADLI FACE OFF (Wednesday)
Another newbie to the Antigua Carnival Zone is Face Off, a showcase of regional and local jam bands. The music will be loud and pumping with artists showing the creativity, energy, versatility and talent of their bands. More often than not, the actual bands do not receive the accolades, but the vocal artistes do as they are the ones that we see when they take centre stage. Well this is a night specifically to exhibit the talent of each band and the opportunity for them to “show off” and face off. However, this particular show is not a competition, just some revelry in the name of good music, fun and carnival spirit.

The Competition Heats Up: Thursday, July 31st-Sunday, Aug. 1st

FLOW/LIME JUNIOR CARNIVAL STATE INSURANCE JUNIOR CALYPSO | ECAB JUNIOR PARTY MONARCH (Thursday)
The junior calypso and party monarch competition is held immediately after children’s carnival which is celebrated earlier on the same day. This is a competition for those talented youths who wish to express their love for this musical form of their culture, and perhaps pave the way for them to enter the adult arena in the future.

ACB PANORAMA (Friday)
No carnival would be complete without the steel pan and, here in Antigua, the rivalry between steel bands is fierce to say the least. Carnival City will see nine steel bands “Bringing the Iron,” and playing for their love of this measure of the culture and also for the title and accolades that come with defeating the other challengers. You have never seen a competition with so much passion, energy, focus and adventure until you have witnessed Panorama in Antigua.

LIME/FLOW PARTY MONARCH COMPETITION (Saturday)
One of the most heavily anticipated competitions and events of the season is Party Monarch, taking place on Emancipation Day, Aug. 1. The night is split into two categories, with nine contestants battling for the title of Groovy champion or Jumpy champion, and in some cases both titles. This contest is all about local artists going head-to-head in musical warfare and putting their every energy into wowing the crowd in the hopes to receive or retain the crown. This is one of the most attended shows for the past 10 years and although the crowd will always have their favourites, the participation from the audience is usually high energy throughout every performance from every soca performer. When the lights frame the stage in Carnival City at 8pm, the night rips into high gear and the countdown to carnival is well and truly close to approaching its climax.

WADADLI BEER CALYPSO MONARCH – (Sunday)
Calypso is part of Antiguan cultural heritage and an extension and reflection of Antigua’s African history and roots – it is also an art form that is very much alive within Antigua and its roots are planted and wound so deep, it would be fair and safe to say that it has a permanent place and an eternal relevance in the market. Calypso Monarch is a display of some of Antigua and Barbuda’s musical veterans competing for the crown through songs that speak of current affairs, injustice, politics and a wide list of issues that society and communities should address or pay attention to. Calypso Monarch is as much a competition that encompasses the community and its structure, as it is about entertainment. Calypso Monarch is also a celebration of Antigua and Barbuda’s history and culture – but not forgetting rivalry.

The Climax: Monday, Aug. 3-Tuesday, Aug. 4

Photo: Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

Jouvert | Judging of the Bands (Monday)
Jouvert is strictly about having a good time and letting go of all cares and worries. Bands take to the roads as early as 4am to begin setting up for the jam session. Some revelers come straight from jamming at local spots (because during Carnival season there is always party to be had) and hit the road behind the big trucks, playing that “feel good” sweet soca music from the steel and jam bands. Jouvert morning on the road could bring the party animal out of a corpse, so be sure to wear comfortable clothes and footwear — make sure not to wear anything that has sentimental value or that you would not be willing to dispose of. The session will be wild, so be prepared. There will be steel pan bands on the road and jam bands too playing music for the revelers and it is during this session that the ‘Road March’ song is selected to denote the “King of the Road.” Jouvert begins at dawn as the translation of the word is ‘day opened’ whilst the Judging of the Bands begins at 11am. Mas troupes and masqueraders navigate the streets with their troupes from approximately midday to jam until the evening behind the big trucks blasting the music that is the heart and soul of carnival – Soca!

PARADE OF BANDS | LAST LAP (Tuesday)
This day is officially the close of carnival, but it is also the day that so many prepare for as this is the day that all divas, whether male or female don their bright colours, flash their flesh, shake their feathers, apply the glitter and gems and party hard throughout the streets of St. John’s. This day is the most colourful and vibrant of all the days within the Carnival Zone. Mas troupes have the chance to show off their hard work and labour as their masqueraders proudly stomp and jam in the streets in full carnival costume and attire. The processions begin to move off at approximately midday. They are usually scheduled to be earlier, but this is Carnival—there are no hard and fast rules. The energy runs right throughout the day with masqueraders ‘jumping up’ for several hours and up into the early hours of the evening. The bands parade their costumes on the stage within Carnival City and get their chance to shine, dance and show off their glitz, beautiful colours, jewels and feathers to the judging panel. The Parade of the Bands is truly a spectacle if you just wish to stand in the streets of St. John’s and look on, and it’s an exciting, electrifying and unforgettable experience if you choose to participate and join a troupe. Nothing can quite prepare you for the antics on the road until you physically experience and embrace Antigua and Barbuda’s Carnival—or, as we call it, The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival!