Road march bigger and better than ever!

And what will Carnival itself look like? We took the opportunity to ask the Association’s president, Patrick Thompson, about the run-up to the event and he says it will be bigger, brighter and more colorful than ever. We also spoke to the appointed grand marshal of this year’s event, Stanley Lizama.

Patrick Thompson, Vice President, Carnival Association

Patrick Thompson

“We started our Mas Camp last Friday where we went to Seine Bight for a junior group and our Mas Camp continues from the fourth to the seventh of September. we have our King and Queen on the second of September we have our jouvert on the morning of the ninth which is Carnival day. And as I said, carnival will finish inside the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. For 2017 Carnival we have 10 junior bands and 6 senior bands that will be coming down the road that will be coming to entertain each and everybody that will be lining the entire route.

Reporter

“How is this compared to statistics las year, we have more people taking part in the carnival?”

Patrick Thompson

“Yes, we have more participants because I can tell you we have 2 new junior bands, we have our returning junior bands and we have 6 senior bands. So it’s like a minimum of 150 because the junior band minimum is 50, so with the three new bands that’s 150 revelers, a bigger and a better Carnival 2017.”

Stanley Lizama, Grand Marshal, Carnival Road March 2017

“Carnival is, go out there enjoy yourself, meet new friends and I am a person, I love my Belizeans, so it’s one day I just meet up everybody and have fun.”

Lizama was Belize’s first ever Carnival King in 1995 as a member of the Cultural Heritage Senior Band.