Rain or shine: T&T gears up for Carnival 2025
Senior Reporter
geisha.kowlessar@guardian.co.tt
Despite heavy rains, scores of people turned out to the launch of Carnival 2025 on Saturday evening, eager to join in the celebration.
The event, themed No Place Like Home, was inspired by the infectious hook of Mical Teja’s 2024 Road March winner, DNA.
Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Winston “Gypsy” Peters, who delivered opening remarks, said Carnival continues to be a key foreign exchange earner for T&T, noting that last year it generated US$93 million.
“And that is confirmed by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The upward trend we are seeing in visitorship to our country for Carnival, the NCC’s intervention in Carnivals around the world during the year is reaping the benefit,” he said, adding that “whether by sea or air,” tens of thousands of nationals and non-nationals continue to flock to T&T—the home of Carnival.
Peters was also confident that the country’s forex earnings could be increased by showcasing more of the festival to the rest of the world.
“We have so many activities happening outside of Monday and Tuesday for Carnival that we owe it to ourselves to experience them, and we owe it to the rest of the world to share it with them.
“Whether we are reaching out to nationals or visitors, our message for 2025 is very clear—when it comes to the greatest and real Carnival experience on earth, there is no place like T&T, and there is no place like home,” he said.
The NCC chairman outlined exciting plans for 2025, including phase one of the Grand Stand project, which has already begun. Another highlight will be the return of the John Cupid Carnival Village at Queen’s Park Savannah, a popular attraction offering a variety of food, crafts, and more.
Describing the location as one of the main highlights for the season, Peters said they will also provide free “top-notch entertainment” to the public at the centre.
However, he added, “I want to tell you that while all of it is free to you, we must always remember nothing in life is free. Somebody pays for it.
“So we at the National Carnival Commission and the Government believe it is our way of giving back to our public and our people by doing these things for you,” he explained.
As part of the celebrations, patrons were treated to a display of traditional Carnival characters, including jab jabs, fancy Indians, dame lorraines, midnight robbers, and colourful pierrot grenades.
Performances also featured from the joint 2024 Panorama large band champions Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra.
The post Rain or shine: T&T gears up for Carnival 2025 first appeared on CNC3.