Friday night 6 PM: Catching Bajan soca singer Alison Hinds perform at On The Reggae Tip Live. Hinds is known for the hit “Roll it,” which quickly became an anthem for young women encouraging them to take pride in themselves.
Friday night 2:30 AM: Got to check out Soca Artiste Machel Montano — donned the King of Soca — who headlined at the Brass Festival. If you ever check out a Montano show, be prepared to be hypnotized by his high-energy performance and wicked wine! Be careful, once you see his performance, you will become a soca lover!
Saturday, 9 AM: Carnival is a time when parents share their culture and heritage with a the new generation. At Kiddie Carnival, I can’t tell who has more fun — the kids or the parents? The kids are sure to jump and wave as soon as they can walk…it’s the true definition of a “carnival baby.”
Saturday, 7 PM: In addition to the parade we party (sorry, fete!). Next stop “Crew & Dexter’s Original Cooler Fete.” Catching up with the girls for good times is always great!
Sunday, 1:30 AM: While we can’t get everything from the islands in the US, we can definitely try! Vale Vibe, an all inclusive, is a spin off from the infamous Diamond Vale Breakfast fete that’s held every year in Trinidad. What exactly is an all inclusive? Pay a set price and you enjoy Caribbean cuisine and drinks all night. Be sure to pace yourself — in Trinidad that means from 4 to 11 AM.
Sunday, 9 AM: We will party at anytime of the day even if it’s before most people wake up. My friends from Guyana enjoy themselves in the foam party at Sunny Side Up. No sleep yet!
Sunday, 7 PM: The biggest fete of the weekend, although named Amnesia, is in no way forgettable. Performances by some of the most popular artistes of Trinidad Carnival 2010 was the icing on the cake. JW and Blaze performed their road march hit PALANCE!!
Monday 3 AM: J’ouvert, which is French for day break, starts at about 3 AM and goes well into the morning. The root of j’ouvert steams back to slavery where slaves were denied access to their masters’ event. Slaves would “rebel” and hold their own street festivities often covering in mud or oil so they wouldn’t be recognized.
Monday, 6:30 AM: A picture is worth a 1,000 words — the music seems to take over! Who needs sleep when we have music?
Monday, 11 AM: With over two million people in attendance, I am still amazed that I am able to catch up with friends and family throughout the day!
Monday, 2:30 PM: The definition of unity: masqueraders from Barbados, Haiti, Grenada, Trinidad and America. Although we all represent different islands, the weekend allows us to come together to celebrate. Or, as we say, “All of We is One.” Until next year Brooklyn…
