Campari Boulevard delivers inclusive carnival experience

As part of the Carnival Sunday celebrations, Campari Boulevard came alive on Trafalgar Road in New Kingston, drawing hundreds of patrons and passersby who stopped to enjoy the atmosphere without joining a band. Running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., it delivered a vibrant mix of music, culture, and vibes. Positioned alongside AFresh Marketplace (formerly S Foods Supermarket), its home for the past three years, the space transformed into a lively hub where music played, drinks flowed, and energy remained high throughout the day.

Now in its fourth year, the stretch was dubbed the Campari Boulevard Street Festival, with patrons turning the festivities into a full street party filled with dancing and non-stop entertainment.

With Bishop Escobar as host, he kept the energy high and the crowd engaged throughout.

A strong DJ lineup featuring Shukkle Bus, DJ Banka, DJ Mac, and Team Coppershot delivered a high-energy set, turning the space into a soca vs dancehall clash that kept patrons moving from start to finish.

First on stage was Trinidad soca powerhouse Yung Bredda, who delivered crowd favourites including Greatest Bend Over, Feel it, and Trampoline. In a show of partnership, Xodus Band also made two stops at Campari Boulevard during their route, performing directly from the truck. On their first pass, soca artiste Voice captivated revelers and spectators with a short but energetic set.

The ever-energetic Skinny Fabulous followed, taking over the microphone from Truck 6 and sparking excitement from the crowd, who were not expecting him.

Moments later, dancehall artiste Valiant raised the energy even further with his performance and commanding stage presence. The momentum peaked when he brought out fan favourite D’Yani on stage, sending the audience into a frenzy.

Valiant, Campari’s newest ambassador, after leaving the stage, was super pumped and in high spirits and didn’t hold back about how he felt performing on the Campari Boulevard for the first time.

“This is what we want in carnival! A nice central area where people can come enjoy themself! Not everybody have the money to spend to dress up in the costume, so this was really a good look and the crowd really enjoyed themselves,” he shared, praising Campari for creating an inclusive space for all. “Campari, big up unuself cause a unu do dat for the people!” Valiant stated. “The girl dem ‘dash out’ (danced) and the man dem catch it,” he added, laughing.

For Campari, the mission was clear and accomplished.

“The Campari Boulevard Street Festival delivered exactly what it set out to achieve this year,” said Dominic Bell, Communications Manager, Campari. “Our objective was to create an inclusive space where everyone could experience the authentic spirit of carnival, regardless of their ability to participate in a band, and the response exceeded our expectations.”

Bell also noted that attendance at this year’s staging significantly surpassed that of previous years.

“The growth in attendance clearly demonstrates the impact of introducing the street festival format,” he shared. “While people have always gravitated toward central locations to view the carnival road march, providing a fully immersive entertainment hub elevated the overall experience and filled a gap. This approach has fundamentally enhanced how audiences engage with carnival culture, and we are extremely proud to offer a platform that brings that experience to life.”

entertainment@gleanerjm.com