SCDF expects ‘spectacular’ parades and ‘epic’ Jouvert Morning Jump-Up

April 26, 2016

~ Children’s parade route along Pondfill ~
PHILIPSBURG–St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) is gearing up to host what it expects to be “spectacular parades and an epic Jouvert.” The foundation has scheduled three parades back-to-back-to-back over the April 30 to May 2 weekend and a Jouvert that will take its traditional route around Great Salt Pond.

SCDF said the Junior Carnival Parade would be held on Saturday, April 30. It will begin at Le Grand Marché at 3:00pm, move down Bush Road, over Prins Bernhard Bridge and move straight to Carnival Village along Walter Nisbeth Road. The Junior Parade will not go through Front Street.
SCDF explained that after the experience it had with children in the parade and extensive heat in 2015, it had been decided to separate the parade from the adults and to start a little later in the day, along an open and spacious route.
“It’s cooler for the children and allows quicker access to them in case of any medical situation. We needed to put the children in a situation where the heat is less of a factor and they are comfortable. This was our main concern,” SCDF Director Mike Granger said, adding that once the parade reached the Village, the day would continue with activities in the Village for children.
The Junior Carnival parade will feature seven troupes, five floats and eight individual pieces. SCDF’s annual Village Cook-Up, a cooking competition among booth-holders, also would be held that same day on stage.
The Grand Carnival Parade on Sunday, May 1 and Monday, May 2 will take the traditional route: It begins at St. John’s Estate at 10:00am, moves down L.B. Scott Road, down Bush Road, over Prins Bernhard Bridge, turns at the junction popularly known as “old Van Dorp” past Vlaun and Son, up Front Street to Emmaplein, past the roundabout at Sundial School and ends at Carnival Village. The Grand Carnival parade will feature nine troupes, 20 individual pieces, four road pieces (individuals on wheels) and two floats.
“We have some new troupe leaders and some returning troupe leaders. It has not been an easy year for many (financially), but we appreciate the effort that they have put forward in getting their troupes on the road,” Granger said.
As for Jouvert, Granger explained that once again St. Maarten has attracted a number of visitors to the island specifically for Carnival’s largest road event. “We have approximately 500 people who are on island for Jouvert alone,” he said. Coupled with the passion residents have for this jump-up, Granger said SCDF was expecting another “epic event.”
Jouvert Morning Jump-Up will feature 22 vehicles, 15 of which are Band/DJs. The rest are beverage trucks, water trucks and others.
Jouvert will start on Wednesday at 4:00am in the area of the Salt Pickers roundabout close to the Philipsburg police station, move toward Sucker Garden, take Arch Road, Illidge Road, Pondfill and end at Carnival Village. There are also several surprises along the Jouvert route, including “a whole lot of water and paint.”
“We have put a lot of work into our parades and Jouvert. The Jouvert troupes will be out in full force and the trucks are fully decked out this year. The parades and Jouvert are the highlights of the schedule. We look forward to having good, clean, safe fun with resident revellers as well as our visitors,” Granger concluded.