THE recent general elections campaign might have put somewhat of a damper on the Carnival season. But it definitely was not as colourful as last Sunday’s launch of ‘Vavalry’ in the William Peter Boulevard.
With the general elections being held long after the traditional official launch of Saint Lucia Carnival, organizers just could not let up the chance to organize an event to at least jumpstart the season which ends with the two-day Parade of the Bands three weeks from today.
‘Vavalry’ had a rich mix of colourful costumes, feet-tapping and hand-waving music, masquerade, stilt walkers and a thick crowd that crammed into the Boulevard for the free entertainment.
There were costume displays from Taboo Carnival, RoyalitesXtreme and Kouture Bacchanal, too, many of which, um, revealed that winning the Band of the Year title is probably more than just bragging rights.
The eight beauties participating in this year’s Carnival Queen Pageant also made an appearance, all promising a competitive show on July 2.
And what would a carnival event be without its soul, its music? Over two dozen artistes performed on the night, calypsonians and soca artistes alike, among them the defending calypso monarch, Walleigh, defending groovy soca monarch, Arthur, and defending party soca and road march monarch, Ricky T.
Here are some pictorial highlights from Sunday’s colourful launch of ‘Vavalry’.
