Courtesy of: The Morning News
ORANJESTAD — Newly arrived visitors staying through Sunday have the opportunity to enjoy the first major event of Aruba’s Golden Jubilee Carnival, this coming Saturday evening, January 11, from 8:00 PM until 2:00 AM. – the Fakkeloptocht – or Torch Parade.
This the first of dozens of joyful parades, pageants and parties that comprise Aruba’s Carnival season which will end on March 4. The processions will fill the streets of Oranjestad with music and costumed dancers. This year, being an important landmark carnival, organizers anticipate exception participation.
The Torch Parade is particularly popular as islanders are ready to welcome Carnival, and this year is a very important landmark for the island tradition. It is a delightful, casual affair, with most groups garbed in colorful themed tee-shirts that have been artfully decorated.
The logo tee shirts declare group affiliations and are usually accompanied by wild and amusing hats and accessories. It is an evening when all are welcome to join the fun and dance in the streets unfettered. There will also be a chance to meet last year’s Carnival royalty, who will soon abdicate in favor of this year’s contest winners competing for these coveted titles of Queens, Kings of Tumba, Calypso and Roadmarch, and Prince and Pancho (the jester.)
The parade will start at the western outskirts of Oranjestad on the L.G. Smith Boulevard.
Groups will gather and organize on the service road across from Valero station
The parade will wend its way along the shorefront to the Las Americas traffic circle fronting Cas di Cultura and then turn up the Vondellaan to the Wilhelminatraat (at the Banco di Caribe) to end on the Avenida Milio Croes, at Cricket Field.
This route will afford island visitors the opportunity to view the parade early in the evening. Combine the event with discovering one of the many fine restaurants along the route, some of which will provide a front row seat to the festivities. Make an evening of it in Oranjestad and enjoy this authentic bit of island culture, a memorable way to top off a night out.
