Hectic activity line-up for Guyana Carnival

Timeka Marshall
Timeka Marshall

The Guyana Carnival committee has been working round the clock to make the event a success. In the days running up to May 26, when Guyana celebrates 52 years since becoming an independent nation, the team has a packed agenda; celebrations began yesterday.

Kerwin Bollers, one of the directors of the Guyana Carnival, said that his team is very excited about pulling this off and is working assiduously to make this possible.

Following yesterday’s opening on Main Street was the 4TM Pool Party hosted by Timeka Marshall at the Tower Suites Hotel Poolside.

Tonight, Caribbean artistes Destra, Spice, Boyce and Iwer George will join locals Big Red, and Lil’ Million at the Destraction Concert at the National Park. The concert begins at 8 pm and tickets cost $3,000 (general admission) and US$50 for stage front. Also on for today is the ‘Come Out To Play Bright Colours’ UK Boat Ride which leaves the Demerara Sugar Terminal on Ruimveldt Road at 2 pm. The cruise is expected to last for up to four hours on the Demerara River.

To kickoff tomorrow’s activities the Guyana Rugby Team will host a Guyana Carnival Rugby tournament at the National Park which will see the local team in action along with three teams from across the Caribbean and another from the US. The event is free and begins after 12 pm. Beginning at 4 pm is the LIAT Airlines Touchdown Cooler Party, which is slated for the Marriott Beach Front featuring DJ Private Ryan out of Trinidad. There is a $2,000 entrance fee for persons taking along their own coolers and beverages, or a $4,000 fee inclusive of a cooler. Closing off the weekend is the NYC Feteland All White Boat Ride. This is a cooler party as well, so persons can walk with their own.

Monday there is the Shell Down Party scheduled for Gravity Lounge. This begins at 8 pm and features NYC DJ Young Chow and comes at the cost of $2,000.

The ‘Kes Tuesday on the Rocks’ event is slated for the following day and features ‘Kes the Band’ at the Marriott Parking Lot. The show starts at 8 pm and tickets cost $4,000 and US$100 for VIPs. The Bare Skinz Pool Party is set for the Tower Suites Poolside on Tuesday also. It must be noted that this is not a nude party.

Wet Wednesdays follows at Palm Court at a $2,000 cost and earlier on that day will be the ‘Friends At Sea’ boat ride which starts at 2 pm.

Thursday morning at 6 is the ‘Mawnin Breakfast Party’ which is slated for Marriott Beach Front. The US$50 ticket is inclusive of a buffet-style breakfast. Later, at 8 pm, the Tribe Ignite Concert blasts off at the Marriott Parking Lot featuring Soca artiste Shal Marshall and Chutney singer K I along with DJ Private Ryan and DJ Energy. Tickets cost $5,000 and VIP tickets cost US$100. Beginning at the same time that night is the ‘Stink and Dutty J’ouvert’ at the National Park which comes at the cost of $2000 per person.

As the weekend sets in again it gets hotter with the ‘Scorch Pool Party’ at the Princess Ramada Poolside which is also a cooler party, so persons can walk with their coolers. The event attracts a fee of US$40 and begins at 3 pm. Then come midnight into daylight of Independence Day is the ‘Revelnation Concert’ featuring Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, and Fay-Ann Lyons from the Caribbean and out of Guyana: Kwasi Ace, Lil’ Red, Big Red, Jumo and Timeka Marshall. Tickets cost $5000 general admission and US$120 for VIP.

The highlight of the week’s activities will be the Genesis Road Parade featuring four costumed bands. The parade leaves the new roundabout at the Kingston Seawall at 10 am and will move along the Vlissengen Road leading to D’Urban Park. The night finishes with the Soca Rave Aftermas Party at the National Park which begins at 6 pm. The Soca Rave Concert will feature Rupee and other Caribbean artistes along with some of Guyana’s finest.

To conclude the activities is the last boat ride, the ‘Suits Cruise’ while the ‘Kool Out’ cooler party will wash everything down.

All boat rides are scheduled to leave from the same terminal and attract an onboard fee of US$40.

Kes Tuesday on the Rocks tickets can be purchased at Bistro Café on Middle Street and Kings Jewellery World.

All other tickets can be purchased at That Look Boutique (South Road), Church’s Chicken (All Georgetown and Linden locations), Exclusive Styles (Camp Street), Nigel’s Supermarket (Robb Street), Rare Finz (Giftland Mall/Tower Suites Hotel) and Gizmos and Gadgets (North Road).

Guyana Carnival 2018 is sponsored by: Liat Airlines, Fly Jamaica Airways, Pepsi, El Dorado Rum, Diamond Distilled Water, No Crew Left Behind, BARBADOS Always On, Exxon Mobile, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Business, South America Undiscovered, Marriott International Hotel and GWI.