COLOUR, splendour and vibes dominated the parade of the bands on Sunday, in Scarborough, Tobago.
The event, which brought the curtain down on the island’s inaugural carnival, saw several bands parade from the Shaw Park Cultural Complex and along Milford Road through the streets of the capital.
Masqueraders also danced on the controversial stage in the sea, alongside the I Love You Tobago sign.
The stage, bordered with a wrought-iron railing, also had a colourful banner bearing the words, Welcome To Paradise, at the centre.
The parade took place before a large gathering of spectators, who lined both sides of Milford Road to view the colourful presentations.
Bon Accord-based band Fog Angels, led by Tele Cruz, was the first band to hit the parade route at around 12.30pm. Tobago Business Chamber chairman and attorney Martin George and several of his friends enjoyed themselves in the band.
Zain’s Treasures of Speyside, Iconic Mas and Jade Monkey’s A Tribute to Blaxx also crossed the stage during the early part of the parade.
[caption id="attachment_983352" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Trinidadian Marlon Rampersad portrays his costume Ganges meets the Nile during the parade of the bands on Sunday, along Milford Road, Scarborough, Tobago. Photo by David Reid[/caption]
The faces of spectators, of all ages, lit up when the fog and confetti machines near the VIP stands heralded masqueraders crossing the stage in the sea.
Some spectators even joined the bands as they made their way along the route.
Newsday spotted Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation Division Tashia Burris on the pavement taking in some of the fun as the bands passed.
Former PNM political leader Tracy Davidson Celestine was also seen at Bar Code enjoying the parade.
After crossing the stage in the sea, bands went back along the Claude Noel Highway to Orange Hill gas station, then past the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, before making their way back to Milford Road.
Around 3pm, when the last band had crossed the stage in the sea, people were eager for more. There was come confusion among a few spectators as they felt the carnival was over, unaware the bands would be coming back to that area.
Despite this, many people who spoke to Newsday were in awe by the quality of the parade.
Nicklon Baker said he was happy to see Tobago carnival drawing large crowds again.
“Some people, especially Trinidadians, won’t know but this is the most people I’ve seen in the parade of the bands before. Normally, we would have bands with 30 and 40 people. I’m glad we got our time and the focus we deserve. We can only get better from here.”
Ten-year-old Jelicia and her mother Jennifer from Trinidad told Newsday they were just happy to experience Tobago’s inaugural carnival.
Though many had become impatient and left, scores of spectators limed along the pavement to see the bands make their final lap just after 5 pm.
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