|
|
|
 |
|
|
Children?s
Parade and Music Festival
Parallel to the new developments that took place in the
early seventies, the people responsible for the
organization of the main Carnival parades decided to
hold a separate Carnival parade for children. The parade
was held the Sunday prior to the main parade for adults,
as is the case till date.
Each year a few hundred children, averaging from 5 to 15
years, enjoy themselves under the bright shiny Caribbean
sun, dance and expose their creative costumes and floats
to the huge crowd which gathers on the sidewalks along
the route. The route is naturally of a much shorter
distance than that of the adults.
The parade starts in one of the suburbs just outside the
City and parades through the main roads leading to the
city center. The parade is divided into groups which
each present a specific theme and matching costumes.
Another interesting development that began to take place
during recent years is that elementary schools also
organize Queen, Prince and Pancho elections and talent
competitions during which the schoolchildren express
themselves in different forms such as singing, dancing
and theatrical performances.
On the Friday preceding the main Children?s Parade, many
elementary schools and Daycares of certain neighborhoods
parade in the streets in the vicinity of the schools
during morning hours. It?s a real site to the eye to see
the colorful and creative costumes exposed each year by
the schools.
It?s almost impossible to think away the Children?s
Parade from the celebrations that take place every year
during the Cura?o Carnival season. The present
president of FOKa (Foundation responsible for Carnival
activities), Mrs. Marylin Hart is one of the pioneers of
the children?s parade and was the driving force , for
more than three decades, behind one of the most
successful children?s carnival groups of all time,
?Sweet Sugar?.
Every year there is also a music festival being held in
which newly composed Tumba songs are presented by
youngsters. The new talents compete for the title ?Youth
Tumba King? or ?Queen?. They rehearse for weeks and all
aspire to have the winning sung which will be the road
march during the main Children?s Parades and the main
tune played and performed at all children?s carnival
activities and events.
By Farley Lourens |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
