Belize City’s 2014 CARNIVAL: PHEW. It NEVER Disappoints

Yesterday some friends and I hopped aboard the 11:30am San Pedro Belize Water Taxi to Belize City for one of the highlights of September Celebrations – the Belize City Carnival.

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It is a hot, crazy, sweaty, loud, gritty, fun event fueled by beer, body glitter, Belize energy drink – “Full Throttle”, lots of attitude, TONS of attitude and very loud music.  Even just watching is exhausting – THE HEAT!  THE CROWD! – I’m not sure how these participants do it.

And these costumes are no small feat.  Fundraising begins months ahead of time.  Bras and glitter must sell out country wide!  It’s definitely a labor of love.

We arrived RIGHT ON TIME to watch at the very beginning…which would insure that I would be on a water taxi back home at the end of the afternoon.

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We joined in the crowd as the Carnival slowly went by…

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I took about 400 pictures.  95% of them HORRIBLE!  Here’s what I extracted.  CARNIVAL!

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This is not little floats pulled by cars or pick-up trucks.  These are HUGE rigs.  Here comes Panerrifix, my very favorites.  The steel drum band.

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The entire truck is bouncing and rocking.  LOVE IT.

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Or just make your own entry!

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My friend Ashley had a GREAT vantage point by the round-about.  Don’t all the flags make a beautiful backdrop?  Note to self…

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The kids generally go first and then the adult groups.

IMG_1695 IMG_1701 IMG_1706 IMG_1714Always behind a HEAP of speakers.

IMG_1715It was HARD getting smiles out of people.  HARD!

IMG_1716 IMG_1721IMG_1742 IMG_1747And then the adults…led by Belikin’s big rig.  Oh!  And for the “adult part” of the parade – this seemed to be the theme song.  Play it if you want the correct mood.  Mr Killa’s “Rolly Polly”.

“Ah want a big gyal, you make me bawl holy moly”…

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I loved this construction themed steel pan group…

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The crowd…

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Can you feel the heat?

IMG_1816 IMG_1827 IMG_1832 IMG_1838Attitude!

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THAT is the punta face.

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The detail on the homemade costumes is incredible.  From make-up to shoes…

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One thing that I LOVE about this carnival is that you feel like you are in the parade.  You are actually welcomed to join in…IMG_1882 IMG_1883 IMG_1904

IMG_1912WOWZER.  I’m telling you, I was ABSOLUTELY exhausted and all I was doing was taking pictures.  What a wild event.

And there are many more parades to come.  Lots of these costumes head to Orange Walk for the 21st – which many will argue BEATS this one.  The grand daddy of all September parades.

I want to go to it but I wouldn’t miss the San Pedro parade on September 21st for the world.  I love it.

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