Vincy Mas as it is popularly known is one of the biggest cultural events to take place annually, an explosion of culture and talent. The official launch is in May and celebrations stretch all the way through to July culminating in the Carnival Monday and Tuesday street parties.
The shows that take place between May and July are highly anticipated and attended by all. There's the Miss SVG show, Soca Monarch, Miss Carival competition and Junior Pan fest just to name a few.
One of the highlights of Vincy Mas is J'ouvert, a street party that starts long before dawn in the wee hours of carnival Monday morning and peaks a few hours after sunrise. Participants cover themselves in paint or mud and dance through the streets behind calypso/soca bands under the cover of night.
Later in the day there's the Monday "street party" where pretty much the same thing happens, but, instead of painting themselves the revelers join t-shirt bands and party in the streets into the night.
Then there's Mardi Gras, which is looked forward to by both masqueraders and spectators alike. Costumes are chosen months in advance and there's an air of excitement and pride as the masqueraders hit the street to party and have a good time while showing off their elborate costumes and "whining" skills.
The carnival festivities end on carnival Tuesday with Mardi Gras and Vincentians as well as the many visitors to the festival start looking for to the following year where they can do it all over again. Yes, Vincy Mas is one big party, the best in the Region and must be experienced by all.
