With the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays falling mid-week, the festivities have been staggered somewhat as Carnival 2025 events invigorate the longest season in and for many years to come. Early events such as “Day One” and “1st Jam” attracted scores of eager fete lovers to the Normandie Hotel and Hasely Crawford Stadium venues respectively on January 1 with various boat rides and cruises happening almost daily since then and smaller niche events such as the “Fete”

On Sunday, January 5, the real action kicks off with Nailah Blackman’s annual concert event, Sokah Origins (subtitled B.A.D. – Born A Diamond) dazzling and vibrating across south Trinidad from 4 to 11 pm at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy; Paradise – The Secret Garden will be held in the west together Soka in Moka which still stands as the only one with multiple live bands and performers now celebrating 25 years as the official Carnival kick-off event.

Viking Ding Dong booked to perform at both venues

Former Trinity College vice principal and Chair of the Event Organising Committee, Janice Richards highlighted the commitment and love for community and college shown by the school, its teachers, and students over the years in a media release, which also reminds patrons that this staple carnival event returns to the school’s outdoor court area after two years held at St Andrew’s Golf Course nearby.

“Plans for this year’s celebration include décor in commemorating the joy we feel as a community having hosted this event for as long as we have,” said Richards, adding the surprisingly longstanding plug that: “With tickets priced at $900, Soka in Moka is presently the most affordable premium all-inclusive carnival fete in T&T.”

According to Richards, the Soka in Moka All Inclusive has proven to be the school’s most successful fundraiser over the years, aiding substantially in maintaining and refurbishing the facility.

“Our largest expense was in 2015 when we spent $300,000 to paint the school’s exterior,” she revealed. “Over time, we have raised money from this event that has gone toward refurbishing the basketball court, implementing our school’s security system, outfitting our computer lab, repairing our administrative restrooms and now, we will work towards upgrading our security system at the school.”

Like clockwork, the energy of the carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago is making its grand entry this Sunday with Sokah Origin, and the Soka in Moka event will feature an all-star DJ cast, alumni performers, and major artiste including Patrice Roberts and the A-Team Band, Raymond Ramnarine and Dil-E-Nadan The D All Starz Band with College Boy Jesse, Viking Ding Dong, Zan, Mical Teja, Blacka Dan, Teddyson John, and Olatunji Yearwood will also perform at Sokah Origins.

Take your pick or try to sample them all, but Carnival 2025 comes alive this weekend and will continue for the next 8 weeks with increasing intensity as we chip on toward The Greatest Show on Earth come March 3rd and 4th 2024.