Last weekend, it was Holistic Foundation’s Dingolay...Big People Party at Club Zen that took the cake but this weekend consider the entertainment bar being raised even higher with a plethora of fun events scheduled.
The fun actually begins with children in mind when FireOne hosts its annual Children’s Christmas Party for the Cyril Ross Home at 2 pm—5 pm at its warehouse in Macoya.
It is expected that 33 amazing children from the home will be coming out to enjoy this year and the folks at FireOne are going all out to treat them to a petting zoo, face painting, a photo booth, refreshments, goodie-bags with Christmas cookies and a visit with Santa for a gift. With Nikki Crosby as the afternoon’s host, Kevon Carter has been thrown in as some additional entertainment.
The FireOne charitable event is in its second year as Andre Abraham continues his efforts throughout and beyond to spread goodwill.
On Saturday, the National Trust of T&T will host its second annual Ponche de Crème and Parang on Nelson Island from 3 pm to 6.30 pm at the Nelson Island Heritage Site. This event will feature the parang bands Los Sonidos and Los Alumnos de San Juan, featuring Parang Queen Alicia Jaggassar.
Los Sonidos was founded by students of the Bishop Anstey High School East and Trinity College East and has won the National Junior Parang Championship in 2009 and 2010. Similarly, Los Alumnos de San Juan was founded by the teachers and students of the San Juan North Secondary (formerly San Juan Secondary Comprehensive) in 1986 and has won nine National Parang Championships. This group has performed in Puerto Rico, Panama, Cuba and several other countries and they continue to entertain local audiences every season.
Tickets for Ponche de Crème and Parang on Nelson Island are available at the National Trust of T&T’s Office, 68-70 Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain, the San Fernando Water Taxi Terminal and the Port-of-Spain Water Taxi Terminal.
For further details about the event contact the National Trust of T&T (225-4750), Fax: 226-1008 or email: chenelle.spooner@planning.gov.tt.
The best idea of encouraging local tourism during these hard times is ensuring that one can present a popular event in a local destination acceptable and accessible to all.
On Saturday, Salybia Nature Resort and Spa, in association with Yorke Inc and More104.7FM, has done just that with the presentation of its Wildmeat Soca Parang Food Festival, from 4 pm at Salybia Nature Resort.
Patrons can look forward to experiencing a traditional countryside Christmas with beautiful natural ambience and a sumptuous choice of wildmeat, curry, roast pork and creole dishes for only $350 at this fund-raiser to assist the Credo for Justice charitable organisation.
They will also be entertained by the masters of Soca Parang in Baron, Scrunter and Marcia Miranda, along with 2017 Road March champion MX Prime & The Ultimate Rejects. DJ music will be supplied by Sounds of Kabuki and The Hitman Howie Tee. It promises to be an evening of fun, frolic and friendly faces.
Interested patrons who are not seeking weekend accommodation at the resort and need transport can call the following to arrange a maxi taxi shuttle service: Nancis (776-6227), Brian (795-2231), Lennox (722-2961), Frosty (721-5731), Oswald (472- 5854) and Shannon (704-4648).
Saturday’s big steelband event is the seventh edition of Pan in D Rosa, scheduled to begin at 6 pm at Lime Boulevard, Santa Rosa Heights, Arima. Staged by the Management Committee under the chairmanship of the hard-working Neville “Pageye” John, with assistance from the ministries of Community Development, Culture and The Arts and Tourism, and Tunapuna Regional Corporation, Pan in D Rosa 7 promises to be a must-attend affair.
Pan in D Rosa 7 has attracted eight of the world’s finest steel orchestras—Desperadoes, bpTT Renegades, Republic Bank Exodus, Melodians, FCB SuperNovas, Arima Angel Harps, CAL Invaders and San City Steel Symphony—along with a slew of popular entertainers such as Anne Fridal, Oscar B, Aaron Duncan and Chuck Gordon who will be performing with the bands. All of this talent will be powered by Johnny Q Sound Co Ltd.
While admission is free, the organisers have promised seasonal foods and well-stocked bars for patrons as they enjoy the songs of the season played on the national instrument.
Among the specially-invited guests are Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, her Tourism Ministry counterpart Shamfa Cudjoe, Arima Mayor Alderman Lisa Morris-Julian and Tunapuna Regional Corporation Chairman Paul Leacock.
Among the corporate sponsors making Pan in D Rosa 7 possible are the NCC, Pan Trinbago, NLCB, Carib, Fire One, Nestle, Angostura, Iceland Ltd, One Stop Garden Shop, Dianne’s Bakery, Intersol Ltd, Hermitage Lime Stone Quarry, New Gate Place, Racetrac, Xtra Foods, Republic Bank, Cepep and Hearty Foods.
This weekend’s entertainment roster is headed however by the continuation of Brian Mac Farlane’s acclaimed Christmas Joy: The Gift of the Drum which premiered last Sunday at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Featuring Wendell Constantine, Lennox Gray, Wendy Sheppard, Marlon de Bique, Marvin Smith, Kelwyn Hutcheon and much more on its cast, showtimes for this production are 7 pm until Saturday with a 5.30 pm matinee on Sunday.
Los Vikingos, the parang side which turned Mooneram Street upside down recently when it performed at Cheers Pub’s annual Christmas Street Jam, and Parang Soca Queen Marcia Miranda, are headlining Sunday’s Parang & Soca Luncheon at Paragon Sports & Cultural Club, located on Western Main Road, Cocorite.
Sunday’s fun stuff also includes Pan, Parang & Pork being held by the St Francois Girls’ College Alumni holds Pan, Parang & Pork at The Clubhouse, Millennium Park, Trincity. Among the acts listed to perform are NGC Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra, St Francois Girls College Steel, Los Angeles de San Miguel, Moricia Cagan and Nigel O’Connor. The fun begins at 4 pm.
Myron B’s annual Backyard Parang Jam is also on this Sunday evening at 37 Bengal Street in St James. This event is chock-filled with popular talent and its acts include Crazy, Rembunction, Rome, Ronoman, Walter Taylor, Jerry Howai, Philman, Mistah Shak, BB Serenaders and Los Amigos Cantadores.
