by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 7, 2023
Since the start of September, many Belizeans have been preparing for the much-anticipated Carnival Day.
This year’s Carnival—the second to take place following the hiatus from public gatherings during the pandemic—is scheduled to hit the streets on September 9th at 1:00 p.m. The theme for this year’s Carnival celebration is “Make Wi Shake the Place,” promising a spectacle that will resound through the streets of Belize City.
More than 13 bands, comprising both competing and non-competing groups, will participate, adorning themselves in elaborate costumes and vibrant colors.
Among the competing bands are Belize Rural North, Black Pearl, Soca Massive, Bacchanal Mas Band, Belizean Jewels, Trenchtown Masqueraders, Jump Street Posse, Mother Nature Creations, and Soca Moca. The non-competing bands contributing to the festive spirit will include Sunshine Masqueraders, Illusive Mas Band, Fantasy Explosion, and Titans Mas Band.
The excitement leading up to the Carnival weekend has been visible, with the community actively participating in a series of annual events. One notable highlight was the Carnival Queen and King Competition held at the Civic Centre on September 2.
The event was a spectacle of talent, color, and passion as bands took center stage to showcase their meticulously planned carnival concepts for the judges.
In the end, the first place Junior King and Queen prizes went to Jump Street Posse, while Belizean Jewels emerged victorious in the Senior Queen category, and Mother Nature Creations claimed the title of Senior King.
Another integral part of the pre-Carnival festivities was the Mas Camp visits, which took place from September 3rd to 7th. During this period, judges made their rounds, evaluating each band’s theme, costume, and dance presentations.
Additionally, the annual Carnival J’ouvert remains a crowd favorite, scheduled to kick off at 4:00 a.m. on September 9th. This early morning procession promises to infuse the atmosphere with music, dancing, paint, mud and a whole lot of energy.
The road march will culminate inside the Marion Jones Sports Complex, where the final judging will take place, and the coveted title of Carnival Winner will be bestowed upon one fortunate group.
In last year’s Carnival 2022 Road March, the senior band Soca Moca Mas Band took first place, with Mother Nature Creation securing the second spot, and Trenchtown Masqueraders taking third place. In the junior category, it was the Soca Massive Band that won first place, and Jump St. Posse claimed second place, while the Collet Royal Revellers secured the third position.