Carnival start well attended

The Daily Herald writes that Saba Carnival 2014 began with the Grand Lighting Opening Jump Up on Thursday. Friday night a larger than expected crowd turned out for Compa Flavour Night featuring Carimi from Haiti alongside Saba’s own XP Band.

Saturday’s schedule showcased local talent during Saba Starz Night Talent Show. Sunday was the Youth Night Parade, and Monday was International Night. “Thursday’s official opening was well attended,” said Commissioner of Culture Bruce Zagers. “It was a successful night and Friday was a successful night as well. The band started late, but it was well enjoyed by the crowd that was there.” Commissioner Zagers said Saturday’s talent show was a good opportunity for locals to show off their talents. “We had steel pans, and we had a youth group playing bongos and traditional drums.”  Sunday’s Children’s Parade was also well-attended, Zagers said.

The second week of the annual Saba Summer Festival is underway at Carnival Village on Princess Juliana Sports Field in The Bottom. Festivities for the 39th annual Carnival celebration began Thursday and will continue through August 3, starting with “Back da the Days” night featuring Mighty Sparrow and Jolly Boys tonight, Monday, at 8:00pm. “Mighty Sparrow has a lot of fans and I’m hearing a lot of people say they are happy he is going to be here,” said Dave Levenstone of Saba Cultural Foundation. “It’s all based on what the people say they want. We can say that we are going to bring in this person or that, but it is left up to the people. We want to bring in the bands they want.”

The second week of Carnival promises to deliver even more with Zouk Night featuring Youth Waves, Luc Leandry and Oswald from St. Maarten on Wednesday. The annual Queen Show will be featured on Thursday with a special single mother’s pageant called “Taking Care of our Own.” The annual Calypso Competition will be held Friday night with 2014 Calypso King of St. Maarten Young Calix the Protege emceeing local calypsonians vying for the title of Saba’s Calypso King 2014.

Carnival weekend will culminate in Jouvert morning Saturday at 4:00am; followed by the start of the Grand Parade at 4:00pm. Jouvert will begin on Mountain Road in Windwardside’s English Quarter. The Grand Parade will take off in the parking lot of AM. Edward’s Medical Centre in The Bottom. Carnival festivities conclude with the Last Lap Parade in The Bottom on Sunday at 4:00pm. St. Kitts’ Small Axe Band will perform at the end of the Parade.

“For the rest of the week, we have a pretty good schedule put together,” Zagers said. “It should be overall a very good Carnival. I think the Queen Show and the Calypso Show should be two very big nights as well, and then of course, we have the parades on Saturday and Sunday. We will have two very big troops, which should bring back a higher standard than we’ve been used to recently.”