Children’s Carnival scheduled for tomorrow

By Linda Straker

Children will have the opportunity to dress up in parade costumes, play steel bands and sing their own calypsos when the Spice Mas Corporation (SMC) holds the annual Children’s Carnival on Saturday at the National Stadium from 11 a.m.

As has happened in recent years, the junior steel bands will be opening the frolic with their pieces, which will be followed with the parade of costumes and ends with the calypso competition. Thousands of children with their parents are expected to crowd the venue for the 2013 event.

Kiddies carnival is the beginning of the last ten days of the 2013 Carnival celebrations, which was officially launched the first Saturday in June. Following the children’s carnival, the next event of the SMC will be the LIME Soca Monarch Competition on Friday, August 9, 2013; then the Annual National Lottery Panorama on Saturday, August 10; and the Calypso Monarch and King and Queen of the Band competitions on Sunday, August 11. Jouvert and Monday Nite Mas will be August 12 and Carnival will conclude on August 13 with the parade of bands on the streets.

However, a number of independent producers will also be having events in the days leading up to the final weekend. These include Ajamu 50/30 celebrations, which will be featuring a number of veteran Trinidadian calypsonians such as Singing Sandra and Pink Panther, and Tallpree and Friends.

The period of celebrations also includes the annual Carriacou Regatta, which will be held from August 2 to 5; the annual Rainbow City Festival from August 4 and 5; and the annual Emancipation celebrations on August 5.

Minister responsible for Culture, Senator Brenda Hood, recently told the Parliament that the 2013 Carnival activities and celebrations will be the best ever.