Braccanal takes the party on the road
Revellers parading at Braccanal (Photo by Keevon Douglas)
(CNS): The music was pumping and spirits were high at Cayman Brac’s homegrown Carnival held over the long Discovery Day weekend. The festivities, which included parties and a colourful parade with hundreds of revellers, were organised for the fourth year by the volunteers who make up the Braccanal Committee. The weekend began on Friday, 13 May, with a motivational assembly held at the Layman E. Scott High School.
Committee member Olujimi LaPierre and Fresh Carnival Committee member Michael Lemay spoke to the students about following their dreams and recounted personal stories of their accomplishments.
“It’s not just about Carnival for us,” said committee member Nickeah Esteban. “We, as a committee, want to highlight Cayman Brac as a tourist destination, give back to our community and also motivate the youth to keep pushing towards their dreams. We firmly believe that hard work does pay off and dreams can come true.”
A ‘Wet Fete’ at La Esperanza kicked off the festivities, where hundreds of people danced the night away to soca music from several DJs. Hourly water-truck deliveries kept it wet, and event sponsors Jacques Scott Wines & Spirits and FLOW provided drinks and give-a-ways.
This year the parade took a new route along the south side of the island, beginning at Cayman Brac Beach Resort and ending at Public Beach, where food vendors offered local dishes.
Three floats, two for the Braccanal Committee and the other for a local Mas band, CRAZE Carnival featuring Grand Cayman’s DJ Omar, kept the crowd in the party mood.
Canadian designers Latoya Alis and Elka Graham created the costumes for CRAZE, and the Cayman Islands AIDS Foundation showcased their King Costume on the road, worn by Noel Cayasso-Smith.
On the Braccanal Committee’s float, music was provided by DJ Ryan, DJ Lin, DJ Pabie and DJ Von, with the section’s more than 400 revellers flooding the streets in their orange and pink Carnival shirts.
This year’s shirt design was the result of a collaboration between the Braccanal Committee and local graphic artist Rachelle Rivers.
A road performance by local artist Lisani Sambula, also known as “ThaDudeFeev,” took the parade to another level, as revellers sang along to the music and danced with him on the road.
After the parade, the fun continued into the night at the “Rum Can’t Done” Party at Coral Isle Club.
On Sunday, the Braccanal Committee hosted the annual Cooler Fete, the final party for the Braccanal weekend.
“We are so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves, and this is why we as a committee work so hard,” said committee member Ventisha Conolly. “We have been getting so much positive feedback from our revellers, sponsors and bystanders and we have already started working towards Braccanal 2017.”
Category: Events
Great Job Braccanal Committee!! You are the only non-profit organization I see pushing tourism to Cayman Brac and supporting Local Businesses You guys are doing a great job!!