St. Lucia Times
Xuvo and Just 4 Fun Dominate Monday's Street Carnival
Thousands of revelers flooded the streets of Castries on Monday for the opening of the marching band parade. Thousands more lined the sidewalks to watch the grand cultural spectacle of the Lucie Carnival.
Of the nine costumed groups that performed before the judges, two stood out as the audience's clear favorites. The Xuvo Carnival Band , led by Lamar Sifflet, dazzled the audience with «Isle of Angels,» drawing a crowd of 2,300.
Meanwhile, Just 4 Fun , celebrating its 25th anniversary of touring under the direction of Veil Tobiere, showcased the MAS’s 25th anniversary. Known as one of the largest Carnival groups with over 1,000 participants, Just 4 Fun raised the bar even higher this year with an impressive 2,000 revelers.
Other groups added their own personal touch to the festivities. Tribe of Twel stayed true to tradition with *Bel Wad ek Soulye*, while Xpressions Carnival Band, now in its third year, has incorporated cultural elements into its theme, folklore. Fuzion Mas, Island Tribe Carnival Band, Royalites Xtreme Carnival Band, Phoenix Carnival Band and Legends Carnival Band also took the stage. Nexus, a new band not included in Monday's official lineup, also made an appearance.
According to the Carnival Planning and Management Committee, more than 7,000 revelers took part in Monday's parade, and even larger crowds are expected for Tuesday's finale.
Today's soundtrack included hits such as Miserable of’ Ezra from Funmachine , Because from Dezral and Jardel , I Cry from Calto , Wire Oh by Remote, , Freakout by Ricky T and Hollywood HP and We Di Vibes by Ti Black and Imran the Nerd .
The winners of the "Group of the Year" and "Road Walk" awards, as well as other prizes, will be announced on Wednesday.Partygoers were back on Tuesday with even more enthusiasm and energy than on Monday. While both days drew huge crowds, the excitement on Tuesday was on a whole other level.
The energy was high right from the start, as revelers—both locals and visitors—danced in the streets, carried along by the rhythms of soca and the nonstop energy of the street.
The excitement was heightened by the presence of celebrities. Actor Lance Gross and singer Chlöe Bailey were spotted out and about, getting into the Carnival spirit, much to the delight of fans.
Gross, who had previously performed at the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, kept his promise to return for Carnival.Bailey, who is no stranger to the Lucian scene, also made a return this year. Meanwhile, TV personality Angela Simmons was spotted enjoying the festivities on Monday.
Participants described the day as «awesome» and «one big family.» However, one participant offered constructive feedback, noting that while the experience on the road had been phenomenal, the energy had slowed down a bit on the main stage on the Castries waterfront. She suggested limiting the wait time for groups to a maximum of 30 minutes, noting that the long wait was somewhat uncomfortable due to the heat.
Despite a few hiccups, Carnival Monday and Tuesday lived up to expectations. From the music to the costumes to the dancing, it was an unforgettable experience, proving once again why Saint Lucia remains one of the top destinations for Caribbean Carnival.
