Another Spectacular Road March for BACCHANAL JAMAICA at Jamaica Carnival 2018

Carnival festivities in Jamaica reached a peak for 2018 last weekend during the official road march in downtown Kingston, however, the images and energy keep circulating as visitors return to their homelands, online buzz increases, and more and more bacchanalists declare that 2019 in Kingston for the next edition of Jamaica Carnival is the place to be! Jamaica's Carnival has existed for about thirty years, yet the international excitement and name-brand endorsements are helping this event quickly rise to the top of the list for must-attend carnivals on the annual schedule.

It goes in waves, at times, and there are often unavoidable trends in Carnival participation. True carnivalists always know how to follow the pace and the vibes of the hottest fetes, bands, and destinations. Details like events, overall hospitality, the intricacies of costume design and costume section customer service, as well as featured performing artists and DJs all help to build a carnival's reputation. Needless to say, Jamaica Carnival has already stamped its name as a certified feteland, and Caribbean cultural enthusiasts continue to rave about the island, the experience, the costumes, the beautiful people, and the overall vibration that this particular island's carnival possesses.

The injection of reggae music brought a distinct electricity that only Jamaica itself could authentically manifest. Artists performing the latest dancehall hits live, hundreds of masqueraders doing the "Genna Bounce" or "Flairy" dances en masse during the road march and fetes were one-of-a-kind additions to Jamaica's carnival that no other location could duplicate. And of course, the sounds of sweet soca music still rang from one side of the island to the next in the days leading up to the Kingston finale.

Here's an event recap from leading Jamaica Carnival masquerade band BACCHANAL JAMAICA, as they outline the season's participants and details:

(VIA BACCHANAL JAMAICA, APRIL 2018) -- Liguanea was a hive of excitement on Sunday morning as costumed groups, individuals, music trucks and all parties involved in the Bacchanal Jamaica road march descended on the area. The vibes increased as friends linked up, the music revved up and the trucks rolled down Hope Road blasting the soca beat.

Vibes masters Narity, Sanjay, Richie D, Kevin Crown, Miami Dream Team, Barrie Hype, Smoke, Back2basic, Private Ryan, Patrick the Hype Man, Tyler and King Taj kept the hyped reveler’s chipping, wining and jumping, going nonstop for the duration of the route, with an hour’s rest at the lunch stop at The Lime Golf Academy.  The costumes with their intricate designs and fabulous feathered plumes created a spectacular array of colour as the band wended its way on the parade route.

All the elements combined to make the day an excellent one. The weather allowed the parade to proceed in relative comfort. The rest stop at the Golf Academy was well executed complete with makeup station, foot spa, and shoulder massages, allowing revellers to truly refresh themselves and get ready for the next stage of the parade.

All service providers outdid themselves in ensuring hospitality of the highest quality. The Frenchmen delivered on their promise of a premium experience. From the premium drinks and snacks on the road, to an enhanced experience at the lunch stop, complete with a choice of cruising and an upgraded bathroom set up.

Costumed revellers were well and truly pampered. New fan, Jilliwerx, endorsed this view of Bacchanal Jamaica, "I was a Bacchanal newbie, however a carnival feteran in Trinidad, NY, and Bermuda and I must say standards remained high throughout the experience. Thank you for your attention to your patrons! You have fostered more loyal fans! See you in 2019."

The glitz and glamour of the costumes, the energy of the revellers and the vibes of the music made the Bacchanal Jamaica Band unparalleled in the road parade on carnival Sunday and provided the perfect climax to an outstanding 2018 season. According to one fan “the experience was awesome. The high-energy, upbeat music kept us going. It was a truly fantastic, all-day fete. Everything was right – music, food and drink. This year Bacchanal was better than ever”.

“We are ready for next year”, commented Charmaine Franklin, Bacchanal director, and we urge everyone to save the date, April 28, 2019, when we create another fantastic experience”.

Bacchanal Jamaica recap via Kamau Janai, for Bacchanal Jamaica; photos via JamRockOne.

Needless to say, we've already secured our accommodations and have started the countdown to ensure we return to the island again in April 2019 to jump up with the band that first brought us our first Jamaica Carnival experience last year. We don't want to miss a thing!

For additional photos and videos, please visit our Carnival outlet @CarnivalSpotlight on Instagram.

Posted for Kya Publishing's "Urban Toronto Tales" blog.