Courtesy of: The Morning News
By: Rosalie Klein
Thousands of costumed dancers wended their way through the streets of San Nicolas and Oranjestad in the culmination of events that comprise Aruba’s Carnival, the Grand Parades. The spectacular finish to the carnival season is when all the groups pull out all the stops. Tens of thousands lined the streets to watch the procession of fabulous outfits, fantastical make-up, sumptuous floats and road pieces, which groups keep “under wraps” until these last demonstrations of carnival artistry.
No matter what has preceded during the season, the final events still amaze, and Carnival 59, when most expected the groups to hold back a bit in anticipation of next year’s landmark event, Carnival 60, was every bit as breathtaking as grand parades of previous years.
Aruba’s 59th Carnival Queen, Samantha Robert and her group, Royal Carnival Group, led the parade followed by Champagne, T.O.B, Los Laga Bai, Pleasers and Teasers, Dushi Carnival Group, OPC, with Majestic and X-Lanz group bringing up the rear of this six hour show by more than 2000 participants.
Some heavy showers on Sunday in the late afternoon did not douse the enthusiasm for carnival by group members, bands or their audience in the slightest!
