AN energetic performance from Trinidadian soca queen Destra Garcia was the highlight of last Friday’s Bacchanal J’Ouvert.

By midnight, there was barely any room for movement at the Mas Camp venue, where hundreds of soca lovers turned out for one of the most popular events on Bacchanal Jamaica’s calendar.

The limited space did not stop ‘socaphiles’ from gyrating to the music of DJ Duchess, DJ Smoke and Private Ryan.

It was Destra, however, who stole the show. Every rag furled and whistles blared as she belted out They Call Me Bacchanal, Cool it Down, Whe You Want, I Feel Like Wukin, and Worki.

Fans can count on the unexpected during a Destra performance. On Friday, she instructed fans to run amok as she sang Mash it Up and they were only too happy to oblige.

Halfway through her set, she invited soca act Super Jigga TC to the stage and he too had patrons singing along to songs like Mash Up The Speaker, Plenty Vibes and We Ready for The Road.

Destra resumed her show by paying tribute to Bob Marley with Redemption Song, War, Three Little Birds and Who The Cap Fit.

After her exit, it was clear the coup de grace would be the ‘painting session’. No one was spared the ‘paint and powder shower as bodies were covered in white paint with flecks of blue and grey.

At approximately 4:00 am, the quiet streets of New Kingston came alive as thousands of wet, painted and tipsy revellers invaded the business district.

At 6:30 am, the colourful J’Ouvert party was still in full swing.