The four Little Miss Statia/Junior Carnival Queen contestants.
ST. EUSTATIUS--The 55th anniversary of Carnival on St. Eustatius will be celebrated in grand style this month. Leading up to the two weeks of Carnival shows, performances and a slew of activities are set to take place in July.
Today, Friday, an “All Wet Fete” extravaganza will see Exodus HD, Grand Masters Band, Rebels HD band, Jamm Boyzz Band and DJ Sense take to the stage at 318 Right field, starting at 10:00pm.
On Saturday, the third annual Lighting Jump-Up, hosted by T-Time and Mr. Spice, will start at 6:00pm at Sandy Road and end at Golden Rock Village.
Also, on Saturday, a basketball tournament, organised by Diker Sports Training Academy, will kick off. Three youth teams will take to the court at Earl N. Merkman Sports Auditorium, 7:00pm-10:00pm.
Royalty Foundation EUX will be hosting a roadblock and barbecue, featuring T-Time and Jamm Boyzz, the Rebels HD Band, DJ Sense and the Turbulanzz Band. The event opens at 7:00pm and the roadblock kicks off at 9:00pm at Charlie’s Place.
Glory Experience 2019 will be taking place at Mike van Putten Youth Centre/Lion’s Den, starting on Friday, July 12, and ending on Sunday, July 14. The Friday night show will be entitled “Caribana” with the Rebels Band, Nu-Style, Pedro Patricio and DJ Sense hitting the stage. Saturday’s show, dubbed “T-Shirt Mass”, will play host to Jamm Boyzz, Rebels Band, Titus band and Turbulanzz. The Sunday show named “The Reunion” will feature performances by Champions Band, FM Connection, Roots-2, D’Vybzz Band and DJ Pleasure.
Saturday, July 13, will see the start of the Race Day Competition at Zeelandia Road, which will continue on Sunday, July 14.
On Wednesday, July 17, the 55th anniversary of Statia Carnival will officially kick off with an Opening Jump-Up. Many of the Carnival events will take place at Mike van Putten Youth Centre, or Carnival City, as the site will be called during two weeks of shows, performances and parades.
On Thursday, July 18, Battle of the Future International 5 will commence with the Junior Calypso Show, and the Power Soca event on Friday, July 19.
Royalty Organization EUX and EUX Aids Foundation are to present “Run Wid It” Caribbean Fest on Saturday, July 20, featuring several artistes from abroad and at home, including headliner Farmer Nappy, T-Time, Akaii U Sweet, Rhythm Band and Turbulanzz, in memory of the late Edward “Tonki” Windefelde.
Carnival’s focus will then switch to the youngest Carnival lovers with the NuStar Balloon Party on Sunday July 21. The theme for the event will be “Candy Crush – It’s Like Christmas In July.”
Four young ladies will compete for the 2019 crown in the Little Miss Statia/Junior Carnival Queen Pageant on Monday, July 22. The Youth theme will continue on Tuesday, July 23, when Statia’s talented youth take to the stage during Youth Night.
International Night will be filled with zouk and kompa music, featuring T-Vice, DJ Sense and Jamm Boyzz on Wednesday, July 24. The Miss St. Eustatius Mature Queen Show will present three ladies competing for the crown on Thursday, July 25.
Revellers will have little to no time for sleep during the Carnival close-out weekend, as Friday, July 26, will be featuring the Big Bacchanal Friday until the start of J’ouvert Morning on Saturday, July 27.
That day the First Parade will take place with a variety of troupes and a float or two taking part in the troupe competition. On Sunday, July 28, the Second-Day Parade will have the troupes dancing in the streets one more day, to be followed by the announcement of the winner of the troupe competition.
On Monday, July 29, the 55th Annual Carnival of Statia will come to a close with the Last Lap Jump-Up, which will culminate with the burning of King Stupid.
