‘The festival is in full swing this year’; Carnival of the Caribbean returns to Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you are American-Caribbean, you know that carnivals are a big part of the culture.
>>> JAX LIVE NEWS ACTION STREAM <<
It’s the return of the Carnival of the Caribbean to Jacksonville, after being canceled for the past two and a half years due to COVID-19.
Jacksonville Carnival Committee President Theo Jack says the festival is in full swing this year.
“On Saturday we have the parade, which starts with the band parade. Feathers, costumes, everything we see in the Caribbean from Carnival Day itself. We have that and the music,” says Jack.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The parade begins at noon from Grant Street and A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard to Metropolitan Park. The three-day festival begins on Thursday, August 11 and continues on Saturday, August 13, with the carnival parade.
Here the paraders “play mas” or masquerade, dressed in costumes with feathers and sequins. The parade is a major part of the festival and how the Caribbean shows their island pride.
Action News Jax’s Marcine Joseph asked Jack about Jacksonville’s thriving Caribbean community and what this festival means to them.
Read: The parents of St. Johns complain of major traffic problems from the new high school
“All the people in Jacksonville, they’re also very happy to be back and out again. Having this vibe going on, you know,” Jack said.
Jacksonville’s Caribbean Carnival kicks off Thursday at 9 a.m. with the first event: J’ouvert, a party of paint and dust that traditionally takes place at dawn.
For more information on the Jacksonville Carnival and how to get tickets, click here.
