- All Inclusives for the ‘well off’ are now mainstream. And fetes for ‘the masses’ are now niche.
- No steelband music. Once upon a time Starlift had 2 or 3 gigs on the same night.
- It’s now a major fashion statement; especially for the ladies.
- Picture taking is now mandatory. We need to extend the ‘feel good’ moment and record it for sharing.
- Women pay their own way. (and sometimes, I imagine, for their escort as well)
- The corn soup is now inside the Fete rather than outside.
- Doubles is a staple.
- Once upon a time you bought your drinks at the bar as needed or sneaked in a bottle or two by all sorts of means. Food comprised mainly pelau and hops and ham/buljol sandwiches. Now instead of pelau and rum you can expect to find Peking duck, lobster, suckling pig, martinis and exotic cocktails of all stripes. And JWB is mandatory. (Coconut water has come into its own as a chaser)
- Fetes are now a major medium for companies to promote their products and services and “Carnival Promotions” is now a key part of the promo calendar for many brands, including beverages, snacks, telecoms and cause marketing.
and the one way it has not changed?
- Roy Cape is still playing. Or rather, Dr Roy Cape is still making people dance.
