Tonight into tomorrow morning will be mad in Boston... Boston Carnival is here and it is time to party!It is called the Hottest Trinidad and Tobabo Caribbean festival in the New England area. Yes folks, and especially for those who don't know, August 24 and and 25 are the designated days for Boston Carnival 2012. This annual festival takes place every year on the last full weekend of August. Several events have already taken place and included in the list of concluded events are the children's carnival parade (Aug 19) and the King and Queen of the Bands (Aug 23).
Tomorrow morning around 5:00 is J'ouvert; this tradition has been a part of the festival since its inception in 1973! This is the one event when people get the opportunity to express themselves without the constraints of what a band should conform too for this parade of humanity. Participants wear what they want, a costume, mud, paint and generally 'get on bad' in a fairly decent manner - it is all about having fun!
Later in the day, around 1:00 pm is the start of the parade of the bands - it is a Trinidad style carnival and the parade copies the traditions of Trinidad's carnival. Bands parade in costumes and dance to the latest Soca songs. The lime is very interesting and just what Trinis love. The parade starts around 1:00 pm but people including masqueraders gather on the Martin Luther King Boulevard in Roxbury taking in some 'sours' and liming and having fun.
If you are in Boston this is one event you don't want to miss; if you are from Trinidad and Tobago no one needs to remind you to be there or be square because this festival is in your blood. I am sure that around 9:00 pm tonight many of the WACK Radio 901fm fans will be boarding the M/V Samuel Clemens to party with friend for the J'Ouvert Boat cruise of the Boston Harbor.
We wish everyone travelling to Boston for this festival a happy Carnival and a look forward to seeing you guys next week in NYC for the next big Carnival celebration in North America.