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What a beautiful sunny day on Sunday for Broward Carnival, which was held in Markham Park, a huge park located in Weston, Florida. TJJ arrived around 2:30 in the afternoon and the traffic to get into the park was real heavy. Cars as far as the eye could see. That just shows how popular Broward Carnival has become. Lucky for us, we knew another way to get there and had no problems getting into the park. They real competing with Miami, some might say there is no competition! Large up the local FL TJJ fam for textin' us the 411 on how to get around the traffic, that was a real score.

Since the park is so huge, all the action was held there. That's right, no blocking off of neighborhood streets for the parading bands. Everything was held inside the park. That walk from the car to the Carnival felt like we walk from Santa Cruz to the Savannah before we meet the 1st truck. That shudda be the route! Might have been nice like Long Island Carnival. Ah yes, good old Long Island Carnival, Trini's ain't bettin they could spoil a good thing nuh :-)

Once inside, yuh know TJJ had to... ahem... "engage" in de festivities. We started jumping up with the bands, which had already started their route to the judging stage. Talk about people! Spectators lined up the streets of the park as the big trucks and bands passed by. There was even a huge bounce house and rock climbing wall for the kids to enjoy. Fellas, talk about hot women, looking oh so fine in their sexy costumes. And yes ladies, there was eye candy for us too. Hot bodies and hot sun... What more could you ask for? We take ah good jump up with Mascots Int'l, spin pooch in a few other bands, jump in d mud band but we cross d stage with One Island (and Mascots too). The mud truck sounded a lot better but the One Island truck had de vibes. Cyah beat the Brooklyn DJ vibes. Foreign Bass was one for the most part when we were with the truck and they large from 19-O long. Matter of fact we were in DC last weekend and they destroyed a Klimaxx Entertainment dance in the Sky Club. Now, we doh have a problem sayin' "low, low" if you doing it for safety, or once in a while to create some excitement for a big tune. But lawwwwwwwd they get lil carried away with the "low, low". The mic man forget he there to hype the music not turn it "low" every 2 seconds! How a man supposed to chip behind a bumsie?!? :-)

So we cross "the stage" now, it look like something out of fear factor and nuff people fall off but it was excitement like only a stage can create none the less. As a band cross the stage they find a spot in the part and the music continues. That's always been the biggest score about Miami/Broward Carnival. So when you think things could not get any better and more there could not possibly be more people in the park, look to your left and there is a big stage with Byron Lee singing to a crowd of at least 8,000 people! This is not including all the people who still by the trucks or by the food tents. As a matter of fact many people didn't even realize it was more action across the park until later on. So by the time word spread, the stage area raaaam.

Imagine Jamaica's Byron Lee & the Dragonaries, Leon Coldero, Roger George, Eddie Charles & Code 868 (#1 Soca band in the state of Florida), Bunji Garlin & Asylum Band, Jam Band from the US Virgin Islands, Iwer George, Shurwayne Winchester & Caribbean Traffik and many more rounding what already was ah sweet lime. Yuh ever see ah man get ah wine thru a chain link fence?? Well yes, yuh know lime sweet. The perfect way to end the Carnival. From the performances we caught, Bunji hyped up the crowd into ah frenzy singing tunes like "Blaze It Up" and "Bomb Song", but was forced to cut his performance short due to time constraints. So whether Faye-Ann Lyons was going to give a guest appearance or not, it didn't happen to the crowd's disappointment. The big man in de business, Iwer George give the crowd ah touch of "Water". Iwer was followed by Jam Band who had to buss their big 2003 hit tune ... "oye aye.... oye aye... oye aye.... oye aye... Music from the V.I". To wrap up the live performances on the night was TnT reigning Groovy Soca and International Soca Monarch, Shurwayne Winchester. We gotta give Shurwayne the TJJ Award for fastest flag/rag waving act. Dat man could spin ah rag fast, fast! And now he bussing splits and ting... waaaaaay! Shurwayne pretty much kill de crowd with all his big hits ("Don't Stop", "De Band Coming", "Dead or Alive", "Can't Wait") back to back, making sure they got ah good taste of that infectious iron ... "release de riddim."

Big up to D Trini Spot family who pretty much sell out early o'clock, but we still managed to grab some BBQ chicken with some fresh salad and yes, some corn soup (you know how TJJ love off ah corn soup)! Large up the Stray Dogs crew who always seem to find their way home... "HOME = On de BACK of ah BUMSIE!!" People left the Carnival in peace, men grab ah bake and shark for the road, police all over to make sure people get across the road safely, what more yuh could ask for in a Carnival?!

Well yes folks, Broward Carnival certainly held its own this year... great music, great food, and great atmosphere. Young and old from all over the Caribbean represented for the Carnival... and ah jump, ah wave and ah wine were had by all. Trini Jungle Juice will be there next year for sure, and we na goin home til the sun come up!!!

- Bouge and The Party Appraiser aka Mango Chow Juice for TJJ

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