PHILIPSBURG–St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) will stage a Culture Night in Carnival Village, today, Friday, featuring groups representing the various national communities of St. Maarten.
SCDF President Alston Lourens said, “St. Maarten Carnival is already known for bringing many cultures together. This is why we decided to put some of these cultures on stage for Carnival 2017.”
Confirmed so far for participation are groups representing St. Kitts, the Dominican Republic, the Chinese, Indian and Guyanese communities, Dominica and St. Maarten/St. Martin. The concept of the night will see each group making a 15- to 20-minute entertainment presentation on stage indicative of its respective culture.
The event is not a competition, but rather a showcase of what SCDF said would literally be St. Maarten on display. “Carnival is still the largest event in St. Maarten that brings all cultures together in celebration over an extensive period of time. We do so through music and food primarily, and participation in our various shows,” Lourens explained.
The show will be hosted by DJ CD Rankin and Nirvana dancers will be performing throughout the evening. The public is invited to come out and see their cultures on display.
Apart from the cultural show, booth-holders will go head-to-head in a cookout competition and there will also be a drinking competition. The entrance for the night is US $10 and show time begins at 8:00pm. The event is supported by utilities company GEBE.
Lourens also said in an invited comment to The Daily Herald, “For too long there’s been a feeling from the various communities or people of a different heritage that there isn’t a place in Carnival for them. We’re saying that if you love St. Maarten, have made here your home and contribute to the positive growth of the country, then you definitely have a place in St. Maarten’s biggest and oldest event,”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/65369-scdf-culture-night-set-to-mesh-island-cultures
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