The noontime parade will be followed by a celebration at Blunt Park.
Justice Henry marches in a past Springfield Caribbean Carnival.
Carnival is a time for partying with parades, elaborate and eye-catching costumes, lively music, dance, and tasty food.
And that’s just what this weekend’s 12th annual Springfield Carnival 2012 promises on Saturday, kicking off with a razzle dazzle of a parade followed by a celebration at Blunt Park to rival any carnival.
The origins of the modern-day Caribbean carnival are believed to date back to around 1785 in Trinidad and Tobago following an influx of French settlers who brought their masquerade balls to the island. After slavery was abolished in 1938, the freed Africans moved their own carnival celebrations to the streets with the carnival transforming over the years to reflect the many faces of its vast immigrant population.
“We want our neighbors to know more about Caribbean people and our different cultures. This weekend’s carnival is also a way to highlight the origins of so many young people who were born here and don’t know much about their island’s culture. And, our annual carnival is a way to bring the islands together here in the Springfield area, that we are not just different people with different cultures, but all one,” said Gloria Scarlett, secretary of the Springfield Carnival Association, who is hosting this weekend’s event along with the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to celebrating the many cultures of the Caribbean such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and others, this year’s Springfield Carnival welcomes the Puerto Rican community into the celebration for the first time.
“We are happy to unite with the Caribbean community to celebrate our culture and contributions to the city of Springfield and all of western Massachusetts,” said Carlos Gonzalez, president of the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce.
The highlight of the annual cultural event in Springfield, which previously included a Proclamation of Caribbean Week in the city by Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and a pre-carnival dance, will be a costumed parade and carnival extravaganza beginning at noon from State and Catharine Streets featuring bands of masqueraders decked out in colorful beaded and feathered costumes; equally colorful and glitzy floats, including one carrying Carla Aponte who is the reigning Puerto Rican Queen of Western Massachusetts; and other revelers including special guests in the line of march such as members from the Springfield Police and Fire Departments and various elected officials.
This year’s parade marshal is Curt Marcellin, the first black firefighter to become a captain in the Springfield Fire Department. Marcellin’s father, John, is a native of Trinidad.
“Curt stands out in the community as the first black fire captain in Springfield, and he serves as an inspiration to our young Caribbean people and others that you can achieve in life if you set your mind to it,” said Scarlett.
The celebration continues until 9 p.m. at Blunt Park where the parade culminates featuring vendors, entertainment by calypso singers and steel bands, ethnic food and more.
“It’s going to be finger lickin’ good,” said Scarlett, borrowing from a popular fast-food slogan, about the many foods at the celebration .
Among the ethnic foods on sale at Blunt Park will be jerk pork, curried and jerk chicken, fried fish, curry goat, as well as rice, beans, pork and more.