The 13 queens vying for the title of Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2008 show off their sashes. Looking ultra beautiful are (from left) Miss Trelawny Kristal Hall; Miss St James Sachoy Ellis; Miss Hanover Sanikah Allen; Miss Westmoreland Katrina Grant; Miss St. Elizabeth Leontre Roberts; Miss Manchester Subrina Ward; Miss Clarendon Whytney Kissoon; Miss St Catherine Marsha Marie Campbell; Miss St Andrew Traci-Ann Wint; Miss St Thomas Janique Thomas; Miss St Mary Elise Barnett; Miss St Ann Shanique DaCosta; and Miss Portland Cornetta Mendez. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Flashes of brilliance, rolling basslines and squeals were expected at the Ranny Williams Centre, Hope Road, on Friday night.

And there were, but not for the moves and music anticipated at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Dancefest.

The flashes were streaks of lightning, the booms were thunder, and the squeals were those of the faint of heart among those exiting the centre in driving rain.

Postponement

While many members of the large audience doing a good rendition of 'gi dem a run', it was announced that persons should keep their tickets as they would still be valid for the postponed show.

There were no such scenes of hurried mass exits at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Arthur Wint Drive, Kingston, on Saturday night, for the slated 2008 Festival Queen Competition.

With the thunderstorm continuing well into the night, the JCDC announced a postponement.

Inclement weather

In a release, the organisation stated that "due to inclement weather conditions the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen show scheduled for July 19 at the National Indoor Sports Centre has been postponed until Sunday, July 27, at the same venue, starting at 6:00 p.m.."

"All tickets which have already been purchased remain valid for the rescheduled date. Additionally, Dancefest, which was disrupted because of rain, has been rescheduled to Friday, July 25, at the National Indoor Sports Centre at 7:30 p.m."

"Persons are being asked to retain their ticket stubs so they may be accommodated on the new date."

With the mass exit from Dancefest, exiting the parking lots onto a jammed Hope Road an extended nightmare at the interrupted Dancefest, although it could have been worse as persons were on hand to help control the traffic.