The organizers of CARIFESTA to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from August 1-25, 2019 have promised to make the 14th staging of the mega Caribbean Festival of Arts the biggest and best ever.
Its already proving to be no idle boast because with the Festival seven months away they have announced that two of the Caribbean’s biggest superstars – Shaggy of the Reggae stage and Machel Montano of Soca have been booked and confirmed as headliners for the Island Beat super concert component of the Festival. There is to be third superstar but the Trinis are holding this closely to their chest – for now!
All the other early indicators point to a ‘best-ever’ CARIFESTA. Jamaica is one of 9 CARICOM member states that has already confirmed its participation along with 3 Associate member states making a record of 12 early confirmations out of the 19 states invited to participate. Note that those numbers represent ONLY the official delegations. The Festival is open to individual artistes, groups and cultural practitioners as well as traders of cultural goods to register and be included in the official Festival programme. In other words you don’t have to wait to be included in your country’s official delegation. But move fast and register early because apparently the registrations are pouring in.
Why is there such a buzz around this year’s CARIFESTA? Maybe it is because the local organizers are promising a bit of everything but especially a bit of their world famous Trinidad CARNIVAL in August if you always wanted to but could never afford the time or the expense of going in February. But visitors will be getting more than Trinidad Carnival; they will be getting the best of elements of many of the other Caribbean carnivals in one place. And if that enough, the excitement of participating in a Jamaican music stage show which is the dream of many around the Caribbean will also be on offer with stars like Shaggy.
After the weariness of WINDRUSH, the frustrations of BREXIT and the tensions of being an immigrant in the USA, Trinidad and Tobago is reaching out to all members of the Caribbean Diaspora to give themselves a break. Take your families to CARIFESTA and enjoy the freedom, relaxation and enjoyment of true Caribbean hospitality!
For more information and Regular updates on CARIFESTA including special fares, hotel bookings (and don’t forget tickets for those super concerts) visit their website at carifesta.net
