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MARIGOT--The streets of Marigot will be filled with colourful costumes and creative floats this coming Sunday, February 8, when the Children's Parade sets the 2015 French-side carnival in motion.
Carnival was officially launched Saturday evening with the handing over of the symbolic key by elected officials to Festivités Carnavalesque de St. Martin (FCDSM) President Jean-Philippe Richardson. There were no pre-parades this year resulting in a slimmed-down version of carnival.
Public Relations spokesperson Hubert Fleming noted seven troupes will be in Sunday's parade, two from French Quarter, two from Grand Case, two from Sandy Ground, and one from Marigot.
"There is one troupe that has 140 kids in it and in total there will be some 900 children on the road in different sections," Fleming disclosed. "It will be quite a spectacle, very colourful with different themes. There will be some mascots as well and Ricky Da Phox will again be entertaining the crowd."
He congratulated the schools for once again making a huge effort for carnival. The parade starts at 2:00pm from the Louis Vanterpool Stadium.
The opening of Carnival Village is on Thursday, February 12, with Dr. Fire, Shantili Higgs a.k.a. Shanae and the Strike-Up Band performing on stage from 7:00pm.
Fleming said the village is right back in order after the damages incurred by the passing of Hurricane Gonzalo and the vandalism and thefts that took place later.
"There was no way we could not get the village back up and running, with the Miss West Indies show being as big as it is with 21 countries represented."
Friday, February 13, is Soca Night starting at 8:00pm with Remo and Barbed Wire, PVI, Exodus HD, TJT Respek, Small Axe, and DJ VYBz.
Valentine's Day Jouvert Jump Up starts at 5:00am on Saturday with the Miss West Indies pageant taking place that evening at 8:00.
Sunday is the Grand Parade starting at 1:00pm. Six troupes are in the parade represented by the Indian community, Dominican Republic, Hot N Spicy, Locomotiv, Gunslingers, and a carnival committee troupe.
On Monday night at 8:00 the Village hosts a Reggae Concert with Charly Black, Percy Ranks, Kalaboom DJs and Biggers.
The Mardis Gras Parade is on Tuesday, February 17, starting at 1:00pm followed by the closing concert in the Village on Wednesday night from 7:00 with Unique Band, DJ JP, and Power Band. Carnival traditionally closes with the burning of King Momo.
