TWO years of carnival absence didn’t affect Xodus as it hit the Corporate Area streets on Sunday, July 17 for its annual road march to close off the truncated season in fine fashion.

According to Scott Dunn, managing director of Dream Entertainment and owners of the Xodus brand of events, it was all planned.

“It was important to us that we delivered on our promise to our revellers,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The laser focus on the experience was caused by the fact that Dream Entertainment had collected deposits between 2019 and 2022. Having done so, they ensured as soon as it was possible to hold a carnival event, they did so. Dunn explained that this also pushed the other element of their successful 2022 staging.

“There were a lot of challenges to hosting this year’s event. It was the shortest-possible period we could put a carnival on in but we were determined to give people their money’s worth,” he said.

Dunn explained that despite the challenges, his team felt that it was not the time to scale back, but do the opposite.

“Maybe other bands thought it was a time to scale down. We thought we have to up the ante, we had to raise the bar, and show people that Xodus Carnival was worth the wait,” he said.

This was evident on the streets as the colourful mass made its way through the upper reaches of the Corporate Area, drinking and dancing to the latest soca music — as spun by DJs popular in the genre — that blared from several accompanying trucks. There was a premium element to Xodus, with VIPs able to access things such as air conditioning and their own separate lunch, away from the crowd, at the midday halt.

Dunn said all the feedback he received was more than positive. He also reported his overseas revellers were out in their numbers.

Chelsea Graham from the United States was one.

“It’s my first time. It’s amazing! My friend, Mishka, invited me three years ago and then we had a pandemic, so hear we are celebrating life,” she told the Observer.

Regular Xodus road march faithful Nikitha Cornwall from Trinidad and Tobago was among the revellers.

“I’ve been here for almost every road march. I love it and I love the costumes…Xodus is my family so I have to be here to support. I definitely will be back, as Jamaica can’t have a carnival without me,” said Cornwall, who designs costumes for Trinidad band The Tribe.

Dream Entertainment is now moving to focus on Dream Weekend, scheduled for Independence weekend, and its expansion into the European market with Dream Weekend Malta in September.