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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Monday 20^th May 2019  (St. John’s, Antigua)…In front of a large crowd on Saturday, the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC), under the auspices of the Minister of Sports, Culture, National Festivals and the Arts, Honourable Daryll Matthew, launched the 2019 Antigua Carnival festivities. 

This year, the ABFC styled the Carnival Launch as a two-part series, which included the first-ever T-shirt Mas Launch, dubbed ‘De Warm Up’ and the Official Launch Concert. This T-shirt Mas experience amassed thousands of revellers and spectators through the streets of St. John’s, which then culminated at the Official Launch Concert at Rising Sun Grounds in the evening. 

Rising Sun Grounds was transformed into a festive and colourful hub with thousands of Carnival lovers enjoying everything that the 2019 Launch had to offer, including the onsite Kiddie Fun Zone and Festivals Village. 

The main event, which was the Launch Concert, featured performances by Queen Thalia – reigning Calypso Monarch; G’eve – reigning Junior Groovy Soca and Junior Calypso Monarch; Empress – reigning Junior Jumpy Soca Monarch; King Vicious – reigning Junior Calypso Monarch; Tian Winter – reigning Jumpy Monarch; Ezzy Rattigan – reigning Groovy Monarch; Soca Diva, Claudette CP Peters; Menace and the Original Burning Flames. 

Antigua’s Carnival 2019 – “The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival” will take place from Thursday 25^th July to Tuesday 6^th August. 

Minister of National Festivals, Honourable Daryll Matthew expressed that this year’s Carnival will see quite a few exciting changes that persons can look forward to. Some of which include the re-introduction of the Miss Antigua Queen of Carnival Pageant on Friday 26^th July and the restructuring of Carnival Monday into a traditional array to depict and highlight more of our Nation’s culture. In addition to this, the ABFC has finalized arrangements with mas groups in Guadeloupe, to partake in this year’s Carnival festivities, for the second consecutive year. 

Antigua Carnival 2019 Official Schedule of Events

Thursday 25^th July

• Opening Parade
• Junior Soca Monarch Competition

Friday 26^th July

• Miss Antigua Queen of Carnival

Saturday 27^th July

• T-shirt Mas

Sunday 28^th July

• Junior Carnival
• Junior Calypso Monarch Competition

Monday 29^th July

• Mr and Miss Teenage Pageant

Tuesday 30^th July

• Ricardo Drue presents Drue’s Day

Wednesday 31^st July

• Jaycees Queen Show
• Emancipation Watch Night Celebrations Thursday 1^st August

EMANCIPATION DAY

• Caribbean Melting Pot

Friday 2^nd August

• Calypso Monarch Competition

Saturday 3^rd August

• Panorama Competition

Sunday 4^th August

• Part Monarch Competition

Monday 5^th August

• J’ouvert
• Carnival Monday

Tuesday 6^th August

• Parade of the Band
• Last Lap