5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Xodus Carnival, and Bacchanal Jamaica are a go! Penning a partnership, the carnival front runners held the first official band launch of the season.
Also, being the first campaign of the partnership, patrons and carnival lovers expect the experience of a lifetime from the two giants. The season can’t commence soon enough. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Soca fans have been starved and are anticipating the event’s return in 2023.
Soca lovers were out in numbers, representing the culture at the Mona Hockey Field and giving a glimpse of the expected behaviour in peak carnival season. Xodus Sweet Treats: Indulge in Pleasure and Bacchanal Jamaica Candy Land was the theme for the launch, and patrons were left with a sweet tooth. Candy- and treat-inspired, the audience ate up every moment, with cameras out and eyes focused on the stage as the designs were modelled. There were 18 sections in total. These sections were: Dulce, Pop Rocks, Honey Dew, Ice Breaker, Cotton Candy, Red Velvet, Icy, Skittles, Red Whine, Tutti Fruitti, Sprinkles, Candy Apple, Juicy Fruit, Licorice, Jolly Lollie, Milk Shake, and Sweet Tarts. The designers include Trinidad and Tobago nationals such as Shanel Gomes, Fon Rose, Solange Govia, Marie Collette, and more. Designer Tracy Boyce represented Barbados as Jamaican designers such as Sherice Dixon, Ashley Miller, Jessica Campbell, and Anna, to name a few, represented the island locally.
Despite a hiccup in the launch sequence with some costumes’ backpacks being delayed in shipping, the designs were well received, and favourites have already been pointed out. Look out for the Xodus Carnival and Bacchanal sweet rollout next year.
