2003 Press Release

DC Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza moves to downtown DC

After enjoying 10 years of growth along the Georgia Avenue corridor, the DC CARNIVAL Extravaganza will be relocating to the heart of the tourist district in Washington DC. Due to the tremendous growth and success, the DC Caribbean Carnival parade has outgrown its old home along the Georgia Avenue business corridor and the Banneker festival site. This downtown area will provide us the opportunity to enhance our sustained growth and development.

Saturday June 28, 2003 will mark the start of this new era when the Carnival community converges on the downtown area with the sights and sounds of the Caribbean Carnival. Thousands of spectators will line Constitution Avenue to watch more than 5000 masqueraders parade in colorful costumes portraying different themes and dancing to the pulsating rhythms of calypso, steelband and soca music. This parade will climax a week of activities celebrating the annual DC CARNIVAL which attracts more than half a million people from all over the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean

The new parade route will begin at 3rd Street and Madison Drive, NW, along Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue and proceed west along Constitution Avenue NW to 14th Street NW where it will turn right and proceed to Pennsylvania Avenue where it will make another right to the reviewing stand and judging point located in front of the Wilson Building (across from Freedom Plaza).

While the parade ends at 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, spectators and participants will continue the festivities at the “DC Carnival Plaza” setup along Pennsylvania Avenue between 10th and 13th Streets where visitors will sample a variety of Caribbean foods and Caribbean arts and craft and enjoy entertainment from local and foreign based Caribbean Artistes, including Fayanne Lyons, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2003 Road March Winner, Naya George, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2002 Road March Winner and Iwer George Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2002/2003 Soca Monarch accompanied by the Image Band, DC’s top Soca Band, celebrating 25 years of music and entertainment.

Activities will continue on Sunday June 29, 2003 at the “DC Carnival Plaza” with food, craft and live performances from local groups such as Pan Masters Steel Orchestra and international recording artist Alphonsus "Arrow” Cassell of “ Hot, Hot, Hot” fame who is recognized globally as the “King of Soca”.

DC CARNIVAL Extravaganza is an annual event produced by DC Caribbean Carnival, Inc., a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization based in the District of Columbia.

We also encourage you to support DC CARNIVAL through United Way by making a tax-deductible contribution.  Please designate #8498 on your pledge cards.

For more information about the DC CARNIVAL events or the DC Caribbean Carnival, Inc. visit www.dccaribbeancarnival.com.