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Soca season in Jamaica officially wrapped this Sunday with the 2025 staging of the island’s road march, and it’s still all anyone can talk about.
All three bands pulled out all the stops this year, giving revellers a one-of-a-kind experience before, during, and after the road march. Highlights included Red Bull Jamaica closing out the day’s activities with a paragliding stunt by athlete Bicho Carrera, soaring over the afternoon crowd, and Campari Boulevard hosting what looked like its biggest staging yet, which stretched all the way from SFoods Supermarket to SHotel with a free, public experience. Even the rain couldn’t kill the vibe. A brief downpour caused a lull during the afternoon session, but revellers were back up and fêting in no time once the showers cleared.
One of the biggest shifts this carnival season, however, was the explosion of carnival viewing experiences along the parade routes. While viewing platforms aren’t a new concept, what once were a handful of pop-up drink spots offering a peek at the action have now evolved into dozens of full-fledged experiences — complete with their own DJs, lounges, and curated vibes, sandwiching costumed revellers between crowds of onlookers.
At the same time, bands ramped up efforts to bring in influencers and celebrities to attract new participants, often targeting first-timers who might otherwise have no direct connection to the culture.
As Carnival grows, so does the conversation: with the rise of one-off experiences and "viewing" events, is Carnival slowly shifting from a sacred, lived tradition for some to a commercialized, spectator sport for others?