The calypso music legend and pioneer Byron Lee was once upon a time struck with inspiration. Roused by the energy and zest of Trinidad & Tobago’s Carnival and its reincarnated presence as a small festival on the University of West Indies campus thrown by Trinidadian students. Lee and his crew thought to harness the popularity surrounding the home-made university festival to create a special event rooted in Jamaica. Thus 1990 marked the first Jamaica Carnival and since its birth, there has been no looking back. The carnival grows each year, proof that Byron Lee’s vision lives on. Jamaica Carnival is all about a party and good vibes. Whether it is the dirty painted fun of J’ouvert or the pretty fancy of the main Road Parade there is no shortage of fun to be had. Always present at Jamaica Carnival is the expression of beauty and joy of their masqueraders. Dressed in their bikini-style costumes, heads adorned with feathered pieces, and faces decorated with jewels and contagious smiles they come yearly to fete. Soca and reggae music permeates the air and digs deep into the revelers’ bones transporting the spectators, too, into another dimension. Prepare yourself for non-stop thrills and few downtime, Jamaica Carnival is not to be missed on your carnival calendar!