Batabano parade ready for the road
(CNS Local Life): As many as 4,000 masqueraders are expected at this year’s Batabano parade, set for Saturday, 4 May, with 15 mas bands, groups and floats going on the road. As is tradition, the parade will start at Seven Mile Public Beach at 1pm and end on Harbour Drive in the heart of George Town.
The parade will also take its usual route down Fort Street, pass the final judging station in front of the Legislative Assembly and head towards the main post office. However, this year the parade will then turn down Cardinal Avenue to position masqueraders right on Harbour Drive where the free “Last Lap” street dance will take place immediately after, with the Batabano Food Festival moving to Albert Panton Street.
The Cayman Carnival Batabano Committee said in a press release that four new mas bands joined the national carnival this year, including new Latin group Mas Azucar, Kaotic Mas Band, Local Carnival, and Fenomenal Mas Band. Also new to the parade this year is cultural dance group Feria Juniana performing Honduran dances wearing traditional dress.
There is also a new corporate float by Canterbury, and a group of local and international beauty queens called Stush Mas. Cayman Aids Foundation will again have a king costume in the parade, and there will also be costumes by Cayman’s longest-serving designer, Reba Dilbert. The 2018 Batabano Band of the Year, Tribal Carnival, said they have doubled in size and expect more than 400 masqueraders for Batabano 2019.
“We couldn’t be more elated with the tremendous support that Batabano continues to receive from local mas bands and masqueraders, as well as from local and international groups who are eager to be part of this 36-year carnival tradition in the Cayman Islands,” said Batabano chairperson Donna Myrie-Stephen in the press release. “This year’s parade will be one of the biggest in the history of carnival in Cayman, and we invite all residents and visitors on the island to come out and experience it.”
Following the parade, the “Last Lap” street dance will take place from 6pm until midnight, featuring 12 local, regional, and international DJ’s on three stages with three genres of music – soca, reggae and Latin.
For more information, go to the Cayman Carnival Batabano website or email batabanocaymancarnival@gmail.com
Category: Events
