By DARCEL CHOY Wednesday, February 13 2013

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The Downtown judging point at South Quay, Port-of-Spain, was buzzing with activity from as early as 9 am as close to 30 bands crossed the stage up until 3 pm.

It was a different scene compared to other years when there was usually a lull between bands, but yesterday one band after the next crossed the stage without any hiccups, and almost all playing Superblue’s ‘Fantastic Friday’. People bounced, some waved bottles of powder in the air and everyone looked like they were having a lot of fun.

One of the bigger bands that crossed was Paparazzi which had 12 sections of colourful mas including “Celebrity Weddings”, “Golden Globes” and “Red Carpet Ready”.

D’Krewe’s band Zia had a great presentation with choreography, dramatic African music and fire blowers which the spectators enjoyed.

In the midst of the “pretty mas” several smaller bands which featured traditional characters like the Jab Jab who cracked their whips and the fancy Indians who danced all across the stage. There were also a few steelbands, including Rhapsody Steel Orchestra who played the Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI) which is the electronic steelpan, and Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra with their band of sailors.

One band, K2K Alliance and Partners, with the presentation The Human Race had beautiful costumes. Its members included former Miss Universe and deputy chairman of the Tourism Development Company, Janelle Penny Commissiong-Chow, and Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley, with wife Sharon, and daughter, Tonya.

Really impressing the spectators with their presentation was Belmont Original Stylish Sailors with Under the Big Top which was a twist on the traditional sailors. Each sailor carried an animal on top of their shoulders, which is usually seen at a circus, including elephants, giraffes and lions.