Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
At sunrise on National Heroes Day many revellers in Pembroke were still celebrating the return of carnival after staying up much of the night, capping a long holiday weekend of festivities.
Hundreds packed into a muddy, colourful, Bernard Park, blowing whistles and dancing for the J’Ouvert from 3am to kick off a final day of cutting loose.
Later in the morning, as the Revel de Road procession started out from Devonshire Recreation Club, carnival diehard Cyrelah was ready to keep going.
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
“I do carnival every year,” she said. “I haven’t stopped since Thursday night. It’s fantastic.”
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Cyrelah, dressed in a regalia of feathers and beads, added that she was a regular at the long-established Carnival celebrations of Trinidad, which she said was “totally awesome – pure vibes, just everybody doing their own thing”.
Carnival over the National Heroes holiday weekend, launched in 2015, is a newcomer to Bermuda.
The party has been on hold because of Covid-19, with a “virtual Bermuda Carnival” held in 2020 after the pandemic put the island on lockdown.
As the procession set out at 11am, Cyrelah praised the new route planned for this year, leading the celebration on three laps through the roads of Pembroke and up to North Shore.
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
A woman setting off behind her said: “We’ve been locked in for so long, it’s time to have some fun and live our lives.”
An older Happy Valley resident watching the Revel set off gave his name as Johnny – and said the music from across Hamilton had woken him early.
He planned to enjoy the rest of the day by watching the Long Distance Comet race from St George’s to the West End.
“It’s been a long time since we had a carnival,” he said. “I used to like the one we had down Clearwater. This one, there’s not as many people as I expected.”
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
But the Revel picked up strength as it wound through Pembroke, with others watching from the roadside.
It was the final instalment in several days of revelry put together by Bermuda Mas Band Association, various promoters and the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
Carnival in Bermuda: Revel de Road. Organised by Party People Entertainment, Nova Mas International and Code Red Bermuda with the help of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the parade took masqueraders in vibrant costumes on a new route (Photograph by Akil Simmons)
