Carifesta 2012

No doubt about it, the 2012 Carifiesta parade was energized by masqueraders and music lovers who were intent on having a good time. And in doing so they added a spark to the street party that took place on Saturday, July7, on Rene Levesque Blv’d between Guy Street and Phillips Square.
Overall, the parade, with its shortened route this year, and  continuing disaffection among some groups, lived up to the diminished expectations: eight bands (three in costumes and none numbering close to 100 masqueraders) and five music trucks consumed the little less than two-and-a- half hours it took for the thing to end.
Among the bands on display were Chocolate City, Carnival Vibrations, Banzai (Island Percussion Group), Roots Cultural Association, Carnival Freaks, JusJab and Lodge Brothers, together with representative groups from the Guyana Association and the Bulgarian community.
One steelband, Martin Albino and Savoys and a pan ensemble with Jamesy, provided additional entertainment.
What Carifiesta, now in its 37th year, lacked in color, masqueraders, spectacle and spectators was sufficiently compensated by the mass of youth that took over the street, many of whom eventually became part of the band of marauding revelers that made up the Jab Jab posse from the Grenada Association’s JusJab.
On a bright and sunny day, their pulsating energy added a dose of Caribbean fire to downtown Montreal. Then it was four o’clock and everyone had to get off the street.