Simpson Bay Resort is hosting carnival events, public welcome

SIMPSON BAY–In an effort to have its guests experience a bit of carnival feting the Simpson Bay Resort and Marina will be hosting a series of colourful carnival themed mini-parades and poolside fêtes.

  This is the second year the resort will be hosting the carnival events. Last year’s events received rave reviews. The Resort’s “Royal Jump Up” schedule will see double the number of parades and the resort is inviting the public to stop by and experience it.

  The revelling began last Wednesday with resort guests and staff chipping and dancing through the nearby inner streets, following the lead of St. Maarten’s own Generation New Status Drum Band and Dazzling Divas dancers. Participants donned carnival costumes from previous Grand Parades, as well as the new option given this year: bright custom made shirts, some of which were bedazzled and decoratively cut.

  The same clothing options – costumes for rent or shirts for sale – will be available to future participants joining the remaining scheduled mini-parades continuing today Wednesday, April 19, as well as on April 26 and May 3, from 6:00pm and happy hour extending to 8:00pm on resort grounds.

  Participants are asked to otherwise wear their own brightly coloured/neon clothes and accessories or costumes. Residents can also join the shirt decorating workshops at the resort.

 Activities and Events Supervisor Raynaida Fleming with guests during the festivities.

Wednesday’s group started out with a small number of persons and gradually grew as resort guests joined in, with some guests also looking on from their balconies. At the poolside, the regularly scheduled happy hour was transformed by dancing, local and regional Soca numbers and further performances by Urmain “Youmay” Dormoy and the youth of Generation New Status Drum Band.

  The group size is expected to grow as more visitors come to the island for carnival, especially regular visitors from Aruba and Curaçao that join the Grand Parade. Festivities will culminate with a grand finale on May 3.

  The Royal Jump Up is a fresh take on improving the visitor experience, showcasing local culture and talent and making these more accessible to visitors of all ages in an interactive and fun way, the resort said in a press release.

  Many of last year’s participants had been loyal visitors to St. Maarten, but had never gotten to experience carnival. The other end of the spectrum includes first-time visitors to the Caribbean, who described having a great time and will be leaving with the Royal Jump up as part of their first impression of the destination.

Young members at the head of a mini-carnival parade trailed by dancers and resort guests.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/65291-simpson-bay-resort-is-hosting-carnival-events-public-welcome