Bahamas Carnival to be biggest yet

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Revelers participate in Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. (Photo courtesy of Bahamas.com)

“We gon’ light the whole place up,” was the promise by world-renowned record producer and executive Dj Khaled ahead of the highly anticipated Bahamas Carnival.

The three-day festival, which has prompted a spike in airline ticket prices, now boasts a power-packed slate of talented acts and headliners for the event’s concert series. Along with Khaled, Soca sensations Destra Garcia, Machel Montano and Skinny Fabulous are set to headline carnival fetes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Dj Khaled, made a promise to reporters during a press conference for the upcoming Carnival weekend, that he will be a part of every Carnival The Bahamas hosts.

“I love The Bahamas. I love Nassau. I love the whole Bahamas but Nassau is like a home to me,” the Miami-based American producer said before revealing his intentions to buy land here.

“(The) Bahamas is a beautiful place. You have Junkanoo and Carnival coming together right now [and] of course you know you have hiphop which is what DJ Khaled represents.

“I got a lot of surprises. Sebas put in a contract, ‘will you rip it down’ and I signed, ‘I guarantee it’.”

Montano – one of Trinidads most celebrated recording artist – told Eyewitness News Online that he is looking forward to performing.

“I think this is going to be the best year ever,” Montano said.

“It’s like going into college. You have your freshman year. You have your sophomore year. You have junior year. But this is the senior year – we grown right now.

“My music is an experience. When you come and you hear Soca kingdom – I’m Trinidad and Jamaica. You want to hear what it will feel in The Bahamas. We haven’t come here yet.

“I have a whole new crew of dancers, a whole new crew of young people and when we on stage, we carry an energy …”

Polantra Spokesman Sebas Bastian said tickets are nearly sold out.

“The king of Soca and the king of hiphop on one stage – ticket sales have been phenomenal. This will definitely be the biggest one yet,” Bastian said.

“When I coupled with my exposure to what carnival has done to many jurisdictions, I saw the true economic benefits.

“I saw carnival – went from plan to execution, I saw year one happen and I saw year two be bigger than year three…”

Bastian explained that while many people attempted to do right by the cultural event, he saw many ways to do it better.

“If we turn this carnival into what its truly designed to be, I want to have a carnival where it’s not about just the performance, but where you can’t find room. You can’t find a ride, every food place has 80 people on the line, just to get a piece of chicken.”

This year’s carnival is not being funded by taxpayers, with all major events being hosted by private promoters and investors.

The big event runs from May 4-6, with the Road March – set for May 5 – to run from the Sports Center to Arawak Cay and will start at noon.