An estimated 9,000-plus visitors passed through the CARIFESTA XIV gates by 5:30 pm according to the T&T Fire Service.
The event was packed as patrons took advantage on the penultimate day of the production.
When the Guardian Media visited the venue, members of the Blackman Family were performing on stage.
Every part of the space was packed, the food court was well patronised, the trade hall and fashion booths were overflowing with people.
Some fashion houses from the Caribbean islands were packing their wares, as they had to book their flights out.
Caribbean storyteller Paul Keens-Douglas ruled the talk tent roost of the Bocas Lit tent at the Grand Market as there was standing room only, with the appreciative crowd spilling out onto the walkway, umbrellas out in the sun.
The audience was a mix of young and old, men and women from various backgrounds and children.
It was vintage Paul Keens-Douglas material and stories the audience was familiar with but were enraptured by nevertheless.
He had the audience in stitches when he opened his act with Coffin In The Truck, My Daddy, Pamper’s Crowd and the Christening.
Keens-Douglas was ably supported by Avion Crooks who was in character as Tantie Merle.
She also had members of the audience enthralled and in laughter with her We Food delivery of hearty Trini food such as fish tea which shesaid was the reason for some people’s existence, healthy foods like callaloo, sancoche, split peas soup were better than the imported fry chicken, hot dogs, and burgers.
Keens-Douglas closed the second half of the show with more of his classics The Making of Pan, Carnival and Tantie Merle.
Among the audience were Bocas Lit Fest founder Marina Salandy-Brown and historian, writer, and founder of Paria Publishing Gerard Besson.