Grenada Carnival 2012

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When is Grenada Carnival 2012?

Grenada Carnival 2012 - Spicemas begins on June 2nd with the Carnival Launch at the Grenada National Stadium and Pan Jamboree. It continues on into June with the Soca Quarterfinals but the main events for 2012 start Friday 10 August 2012 and go through Tuesday 14 August 2012. For a list of the dates for each event CLICK HERE.

What is Grenada Carnival 2012?

Grenada explodes in colour and noise at the ebullient Grenada Carnival, 'Spicemas'. Grenadian starlets vie for the carnival crown and soca and calypso singers compete to be 'monarch'. Multi-coloured 'devils' run wild and steel bands rock the island during J’ouvert.
Young and Old come to enjoy Pan Jamboree, the Soca Quarterfinal, and Monday Night Mas in Greanada.
The capital jumps to the sounds of steel bands and DJs as everyone enjoys a 'Last Lap' during the Parade of the Bands on the final day throughout St George's. Cover yourself in bright body paint and join the thousands for a mighty fine Caribbean J'Ouvert.

Bookmark the site as 2012 Grenada Carnival Costumes will be posted once they are ready.

JÓuvert

Many revellers begin their Carnival marathon at the Dimarche Gras Show and continue straight into the J’Ouvert celebrations, where in the early hours of Monday morning,

"...The Traditional Jab-Jab Or Devil Mas Bands Emerge From The Darkness Of The Night To Parade Freely Through The Town."

Blackened with stale molasses, tar, grease, creosote or mud, and wearing little more than their horned helmets, these masqueraders in previous times set out to terrify onlookers with their grotesque appearance and repulsive dances.
In modern times, the traditional Jab-Molassi have mutated into other creatures of colour, with Blue, Yellow and Green Devils joining in the early morning parade. These colourful devils are much more playful in character, wanting only to dab a bit of their body paint onto unsuspecting bystanders, as they dance through the streets to the rhythms of the accompanying drums, steel bands and calypsos from huge DJ trucks.
The Ole Mas bands are the only other inhabitants in the early morning, bringing international and local events to the fore through their double entendre (or double talk) placards and satirical costumes.

Pageant Mas

Each parish has its own brand of traditional mas usually represented by Short Knees, Vekou and Wild Indians.

With Arab-like head coverings, jumbo collars, batwing sleeves and three-quarter
(short knee) baggy trousers, the Short knee Bands are now the most prevalent of the traditional masqueraders. Almost identical in appearance, they dance through the roads from their respective villages, into the town of St. George’s, passionately chanting, boxing the air and scattering baby powder with abandon.

Next come the modern costumed bands of revellers, who cross the stage at the National Stadium and then parade through the streets of the capital city of St. George’s in the afternoon sun, gyrating to the beat of the year’s most popular calypsos. Listen out for the song most played throughout the day, as this is the basis for the Annual Road March King Competition. Costumed bands are often heralded by the arrival of the King and Queen of the band, the large costumes which vied for King and Queen of Carnival during the Sunday night Dimarche Gras.

Monday Night Mas

Carnival Monday Ends With The Monday Night Mas' Street Jump-Up, Where Party Goers In Brightly Coloured T-Shirt Bands, Wave Fluorescent Wands And Dance Through The Streets Into The Wee Hours Of The Tuesday Morning.

SpiceMas 2012 Schedule