Bacchanal celebrates its legacy
BACCHANAL Jamaica will be highlighting its colourful history at this year’s staging of carnival under the theme: Bacchanal Legacy — Live the Dream.
The announcement was made at a media launch held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew, on Wednesday evening.
“2016 is somewhat of a retrospective of the best of carnival and this is reflected in our naming of the costumes. But even as we celebrate the foundations and many initiatives that made Bacchanal Jamaica an institution in Jamaica and among carnival lovers everywhere, we have not ceased to explore new and innovative ways of ensuring that the legacy endures. We will reveal these as the season unfolds,” said Michael Ammar Jr, a director of Bacchanal Jamaica.
Carnival will run its eight weeks starting with Bacchanal Fridays on February 12 through to March 18, at Mas Camp, St Andrew. It will then make the traditional jump to James Bond Beach in St Mary for Beach J’Ouvert on March 26. April 1 will see Bacchanal J’Ouvert. The road march on April 3 will close out carnival 2016, for which the spirit of the road march competition will play an important role across the 25 costumed bands expected to participate.
“We will be bringing to Jamaica three of the top soca bands out of Trinidad. Only the best for our Jamaican revellers,” Ammar Jr continued.
Soca stars Bunji Garlin, Faye Ann Lyons, Destra Garcia and KES the Band are among the acts billed to perform. Local disc jocks DJ Richie Ras, DJ Smoke and Sanjay are scheduled to provide the music.
Kamal Powell, senior sponsorship and development manager — Digicel, spoke of his company’s support for Bacchanal Jamaica.
“Digicel is proud to be affiliated with this annual colourful and culture-filled celebration and we’re happy for the opportunity to help amplify the experience for our valued customers,” he told the
Jamaica Observer.
Also on hand was Julian Robinson — Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and Member of Parliament in the constituency of St. Andrew South Eastern — the constituency where Bacchanal Jamaica’s activities are centred. He pushed beyond the entertainment value of Bacchanal, extolling its commercial contributions to the area. After the remarks, guests were treated to a presentation of the 2016 costumes.
