On J’Ouvert morning, if you’re hoping to watch the mud mas celebrations in Downtown Port-of-Spain, you will be able to watch from the stands for free.
This was confirmed by councillor Stephen Harper of the Downtown Carnival Committee during a press conference at City Hall on Wednesday.
“On J’Ouvert morning, normally there is a cost to utilise the stands. This year, for the first time we’re gonna open up the stands, free of charge to the public on J’Ouvert,” said Harper.
He said patrons using the stand to look at mas on Carnival Monday and Tuesday will be charged $120 each.
This means members of the public hoping to see the Mayor’s proclamation for the opening of Carnival, the ole mas and King and Queen of J’Ouvert competitions, you will be able to watch it from the comfort of the stands at no cost.
Chairman of Downtown Carnival Committee Wendell Stephen said the downtown judging point along South Quay will be opened two hours earlier than usual at 11 am on Carnival Monday as the Committee learned that after a few years absence some of the country’s biggest bands will return to downtown.
“We have the return of all the big bands to the city of Port-of-Spain and most of them come pretty early,” said alderman Stephen, “And of course on Carnival Tuesday we start at 8 am where all the major bands; large, medium, small, mini, they all cross our downtown venue.”
The Downtown judging point will play a part of Saturday’s Junior Carnival Parade from 8 am, while also being a part of the Downtown Committee’s own Junior mas competition on Sunday which will see the young revellers parade from the Brian Lara Promenade to the Downtown stage then onto the Piccadilly stage as a part of the East Port-of-Spain competition.
The committee is also offering a special package for families over the weekend, as parents and guardians who bring four children will pay the cost of three children.