The Buildup To Saturday’s ‘Carnival Meets the Runway’ Starts Wednesday

ST. CROIX — Alvin Burke’s Carnival Meets the Runway event — known to kickoff the Crucian Christmas Festival mood on St. Croix — happens this Saturday at the Caravelle Hotel. This year though, you don’t have to wait until Saturday to get a taste of the event, although attending on Saturday for the full experience is highly recommended.

Starting tonight, Carnival Meets the Runway’s “Fringe Week” kicks off with entertainment from top VI music group Big Band and top deejay Supa Trackz International. The event takes place at the Ultra Lounge at Chris Hideaway. This event is sponsored by local apparel brand Apollo Legion and is dubbed “Apollo Legion Meets the Runway”.

On Thursday, Fringe Week continues with “Ladies Night” with DJ Slik, DJ Genius and Mr. Energy at Cloud 9, sponsored by local apparel brand Wire Amor.

On Friday, apparel brand DPMNM (Don’t Pay Me No Mind) sponsors “DPMNM Meets the Runway”, an event featuring Adam O., Felix London, Lima Licious, KSS Sounds, DJ Rude and Big Kat Sounds at the well-known Starlight Lounge.

Carnival Meets the Runway, which starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, is essentially a showcase of what residents and visitors alike should expect to see on the road for the Adults Parade, and it also helps individuals still undecided about which troupe to join.

This year’s is the sixth annual event, according to Mr. Burke, who also organizes the popular Soca Monarch event in the Festival Village — known to have one of the largest Village crowds during the season.

Mr. Burke assembled a good mix of deejays, bands and artists with an aim to up the ante on past shows. The presentation will include entertainment from Pumpa, Poizon Band, Vio International, Francillia Benjamin, Elizabeth Watley, DJ Slik, DJ Karl with Selecta Kuff, and Supa Trackz International. The event will be hosted by Lima Licious.

There will be a special guest performance by popular violinist Mapy.

Troupes participating in this year’s event include Regal Dynasty, Prestige Troupe, Savage Festival Troupe, Pure Mas Fun Troupe, Lockhart & Associates Festival Troupe, the Ten Sleepless Knights Cultural Troupe, Prestige Carnival Troupe, the People’s Band and Sanctuary Festival Troupe, according to information gleaned for the event’s flyer.