For Trinis, any of these will constitute a favourite Carnival lime . Workers most of them volunteers scurry around putting the finishing touches to vivid feathered head-dresses, flowing robes and bikinis that dazzle with sequins and beads. This is the engine room of Carnival, the place where literally millions of bits and pieces come together somehow, and usually at the last possible minute to form that amazing, unbelievably beautiful spectacle that is a Carnival band. The mas camp is where it all starts. Bands are launched around November with a big party to present costume designs to the general public.
Masqueraders choose their favourites and pay the requisite fee to sign up.
Three months later, they pick up their costumes, some of which, these days, can fit into an envelope. On Carnival Saturday, thousands of excited children, from tiny tots to teenagers, take to the streets, their proud parents waving enthusiastically from the sidelines. J Ouvert morning Carnival proper starts here. Monday morning, 4.00 a.m., and the city streets St James, Woodbrook, downtown Port of Spain, not to mention those of San Fernando and other major centres are alive with strange creatures of the night . For Carnival revellers, this is the starting signal for two days of complete freeing up .