Jamaica Comes Alive With 'Carnival"

 KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s celebrated Carnival season has officially kicked-off and will run now through Sunday, May 1, 2011. An exciting roster of high-energy events and custom parades, featuring the sounds of soca, reggae, and calypso, will be showcased island-wide, attracting residents and visitors alike. 

According to John Lynch, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, the Carnival season in Jamaica is a key time for visitors to join in the celebration with locals and enjoy the festivities. 

“Carnival offers an exhilarating cultural experience, where visitors who come for soca and calypso will also hear our reggae,” said Lynch. “Vacationers have the opportunity to blend with local residents under Jamaica’s ‘One Love’ mantra to absorb our rich cultural heritage.” 

Currently, the streets of Jamaica are abuzz with the “Lime All-Island Carnival,” a series of “roving fetes,” which take the Carnival experience to several major towns. The series commences in Kingston and will culminate in the island’s capital with “Soca Supa Soka” celebrations on April 29, 2011 at the UDC Field in New Kingston. 

Each event includes live entertainment with veteran soca and reggae artists expected to perform.

“Bacchanal Jamaica,” the leading Mas Band in the island, will hold its signature events under the theme Once Upon A Dynasty. The major Bacchanal Jamaica parties and parades are listed below, with Soca’cise sessions each week on Mondays and Wednesdays at MasCamp Village in Kingston. Bacchanal Fridays are also held at MasCamp over a ten-week period.