After having the time of our lives at the first, annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in 2015, we eagerly counted down the months until we would reunite with Bahamas Masqueraders (a.k.a. "The Winner's Circle") for another electrifying Road Fever Parade.
We couldn't wait to once again get caught up in the action - to wine, chip, jump and wave - alongside hundreds of exuberant Masqueraders through the streets of one of the most popular cities in the Caribbean.
And we couldn't wait to share every thrilling moment with you.
Here's our photo journey and behind the scenes look at our Road Fever experience with one of the premiere mas bands of the 2016 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival - Bahamas Masqueraders.
"Close your eyes and feel
How freedom does feel
We are Masqueraders!"
-Lyrikal
For months, Bahamas Masqueraders had been hard at work creating a dazzling production filled with colors, sounds and themes that would fuse the rich tradition of Junkanoo with the modern concept of Carnival.
Finishing Touches
Like the hundreds of revellers preparing to play mas the following day, we knew that mas camp was the only place to find the creative geniuses behind the Bahamas Masqueraders Road Company.
Anyone familiar with carnival knows that this was crunch time - the last opportunity to apply finishing details to a staggering number of handmade costumes (over four hundred, if you were wondering).
With that in mind, we tossed our interview questions aside and took in the scene at hand. All that we needed to know about this intricate process could be surmised by simply watching these masters hard at work.
They sat at rainbow colored tables cluttered with the tools of their trade - gadgets, wires, feathers, cardboard and shiny things.
And even as they briefly looked up to say hello and welcome us, there was no mistaking the look of determination in their eyes. After all, they were responsible for making dreams come true for the hundreds of revelers looking forward to playing mas the next day.
It was as if we had walked into Santa's Caribbean workshop.
Morning Fever
Before we knew it, Road Fever morning had arrived.
We watched in wonder as a sleepy gym-turned-staging-area slowly burst into color from the hundreds of Bahamas Masqueraders trickling in with vibrant costumes in hand.
But we were soon reminded that costumes were just the beginning.
True Masqueraders completed their dramatic transformations with the addition of embellishments such as jewels, body paint and fancy footwear.
Freeze Frames
Carnival bands drew inspiration for their costumes in personally selected themes.
For 2016 Junkanoo Carnival, Bahamas Masqueraders pulled from their distant history to bring the concept of "Guanahani" to life.
Guanahani, in case you didn't know, was the first land mass visited by Christopher Columbus on his historic voyage in 1492.
Its striking contrast to Columbus' Spanish home - imagine the dazzling tropical paradise that appeared before him like a mirage - inspired him to refer to this place as "The New World".
Today, it is the Bahamian island known as San Salvador.
Eye-catching and unforgettable - these words fit just as perfectly with the spirit of Bahamas Masqueraders as they do with the island nation they proudly represented.
Living Colors
Shortly after noon, it was finally time for Bahamas Masqueraders to heat things up.
As the road company's DJs provided the perfect soundtrack, hundreds of Bahamas Masqueraders sprang into action to play mas on the streets of Nassau.
Road Fever
Young and old watched in awe - cheering, singing and dancing along - as The Winner's Circle lit up the streets of Nassau.
Although this year's parade route was noticeably longer than last year's, Bahamas Masqueraders drew their energy from the crowds to keep up their stamina.
Pure Vibes
Costumes and music are the key elements behind the success of a carnival band.
In fact, Road Fever would be nothing more than a colorful walk in the park without the jolt from rake-n-scrape, reggae and soca music putting a kick in the step and a wine in the hip.
Led by charismatic powerhouse, Giselle D' Wassi One, Bahamas Masqueraders livened the streets of New Providence with a non-stop musical production of both live and recorded sounds.
A lineup of premiere, music makers from across the Caribbean joined Bahamas Masqueraders and performed live for their Road Fever concert experience.
It came as no surprise to us that their musical entourage included some of the most popular artists on the Soca scene: Alison Hinds; Lyrikal; Ricardo Drue; Puzzle; Bodine; Khiara Sheman; 2016 Soca monarch, Voice; and Benje who produced and co-wrote the 2016 theme song for Bahamas Masqueraders.
"When we chipping to the beat
And we're rushing through the street
Tell them - we are Masqueraders"
-Benje
High Road
What more can we say about the fabulous Bahamas Masqueraders Road Fever Company?
Over the course of one day, they dazzled us with their artistic design and swept us away with their spirit.
Donned in show-stopping colors and bounding with unlimited energy, they chipped, wined, dipped and strolled along the lengthy carnival route and won the hearts of thousands.
At the end of their exhausting Road Fever experience, they had succeeded in capturing the true spirit of carnival and convincing us to join them once again in 2017.
Scroll down to see our video capturing Bahamas Masqueraders in action.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Mr. Anton Dean, Ms. Africa Allah and the entire Bahamas Masqueraders Road Fever Company for inviting us to Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival 2016 and making us feel every bit a part of The Winner's Circle.
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All photos, videos and text contained in this post are the sole property of Caribbean Soul Trekkers, LLC. All opinions are our own.