Best time to play Mas!

Carnival and culture lovers are spoilt for choice at the moment with multiple celebrations around the Caribbean.

Jamaica is marking its independence achieved on 6 August 1962. Many Caymanians are celebrating too as a huge swathe of the population have strong connections with our neighbours. There is a strong Jamaican presence in the Cayman Islands too.

Jamaicans headed to the Seville Great House and Heritage Park in St Ann’s Bay, on July 31 for the annual free Emancipation Vigil to celebrate the island’s rich cultural heritage by its African ancestors during and following the period of enslavement.

The Emancipation Jubilee celebrated Taino, African, Spanish and English influences through music, drama, food, fashion, dance, faith and history to mark the end of slavery, lasting through the night into Emancipation Day on August 1.

The stage show included performances by The Abyssinians, Peter Metro, Admiral Bailey, George Nooks, Rhoda Isabella and Sista Patt.

At the Independence Village established at the National Stadium Complex in Kingston, Jamaicans enjoyed all things cultural from Saturday, August 2. It showcased the best of the island’s creativity, including local cuisine, art, concert performances and cultural expressions, marking the 63 years since independence.

The celebrations culminated on Independence Day with the spectacular Grand Gala at the National Stadium. A highlight of the gala was a segment celebrating the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) inscription of Port Royal.

Antigua and Barbuda has just completed its two weeks of carnival which began on July 25 under the theme ‘Itz A Vibe’. It was filled with mas, music and culture. This year’s celebration included major musical milestones, as the destination marks the 80th anniversary of Hell’s Gate Steel Orchestra, 40 years of Burning Flames, and 25 years of Claudette ‘CP’ Peters.

The Burning Flames 40th anniversary concert on July 30 was at a packed Antigua Recreation Ground, followed by Annual Watchnight Gathering and the Caribbean Melting Pot on July 31 headlined by soca superstar Machel Montana. Next was the Panorama Steelband competition on August 2, Party Monarch the following day and finished with the traditional J’ouvert morning, Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday mas. The carnival season drew to an end with Last Lap, that saw carnival goers take one last jump-up through the streets of St John’s on Tuesday night.

Barbados finished their six-week stretch of Crop Over Festival with the grand finale, Kadooment Day, which is celebrated every first Monday of August. It is the most vibrant celebration of all the holidays in Barbados. Revellers wore colourful clothes and costumes, partied hard, and danced to hypnotic calypso music in a wonderful celebration of life, freedom, and ancient history.

Grenada is also staging its largest cultural event of the year, Spicemas 2025, which runs from August 6-13. It celebrates the Spice Island’s rich culture, including local arts, music, and fun events.

Spicemas attracts thousands each year, with both residents and tourists looking forward to the week-long celebration, which includes parades, steel pan music, beauty pageants, and traditional performances.

This celebration peaks with J’Ouvert Morning and Monday Night Mas. On Tuesday, the festivities conclude with the celebration of the Parade of the Bands, with locals and revellers taking over the streets while doing costumed parades.

Tiny St Kitts and Nevis has just finished two months of celebrations. The Nevis Culturama Festival 51, coined as the ‘Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Lime’, was a series of cultural and entertainment events which started on June 6. The last few events were the Soca Monarch contest then the TDC Kaiso Competition and the incredibly popular Emancipation J’ouvert Jump Up on Monday.