PHILIPSBURG--Carnival Village officially opened on Thursday night, signalling the start of fete and bacchanal.
The traditional opening jump-up started at Milton Peters Collage in South Reward just after 8:39pm. There was a symbolic ribbon-cutting across the road by the St. Maarten Community Collective South Reward before revellers started their jump-up exercises through the streets to Carnival Village.
For the first time, King Momo, the effigy that is set on fire at the end of the Carnival season, led the jump-up. The contestants from the various Queen Shows also marched at the beginning of the jump-up. No Limit, 4M HD, DJ Pauly, Wicked Boys and Band Clash winners XP Band were the bands involved in the large jump-up. Thousands jumped alongside each other with minimal incidents.
Minister ofTourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Irania Arrindell handed over the symbolic key to the village to St Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) President and Director Michael Granger to signify the opening of the Village and Carnival season. Main sponsors TelEm and International Liquors and Tobacco Trading (ILTT) were also present during the opening.
The Village will be occupied every night for the next two weeks with a different event for the public.
