Roxroy McLean, Gleaner Writer

There was a mixture of revelry and nationalism as the float parade rolled through the Corporate Area. - Photo by Roxroy McLean

The busy streets of the Corporate Area were filled with excitement on Wednesday, by way of a float parade organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).

The event, serving as a preview of the Festival street parade set for Independence Day, saw scores of onlookers admiring the colourful presentation of floats and costumes.

Dubbed the 'Taste of the Festival Street Parade' the event, which was led by Digicel's music truck, was coloured by the wonderfully designed costumes which evoked the spirit of the season.

Floats, with names such as 'Eat What We Grow', 'Olympic Dream', 'Finding Wi Riddim', 'Passa Passa', 'Return to Paradise' and 'Ancestral Passion', were on display.

Rich culture

The costumed groups 'Mek a Joyful Noise', 'Independence Symphony', 'Coronation Market', 'Songs of Freedom' and 'Reggae Euphoria' caught the attention of onlookers, reminding them of Jamaica's rich culture.

The tour started on East Queen Street, downtown Kingston and slowly rolled down the road as one onlooker asked, "A carnival already?" Then another, who seemed amazed by some of the designs said, "Me nah tell nuh lie, dem look good."

Continuing on to Orange Street, which proved to be a busy section of downtown Kingston, the parade grabbed the attention of vendors, taxi operators and pedestrians, who paused to admire the designs of the various pieces.

While some commented on the spectacular floats a taxi man operating at the Vineyard Town taxi stand tried to lure one of the female volunteers from the truck with "browning you look good, mi would a tek yuh weh right now".

The surge went farther up Orange Street and then on to North Street, where scores of persons from the Fletcher's Land comm-unity ran from their houses to see what was taking place.

Unique dancing

A mixture of reggae and soca beats was one highlight of the parade, which proved too much for an elderly woman who was seated at the intersection of North and Duke streets. She got up, and as the music played she grabbed on to a pole near her, which she used as her dance partner.

Prior to the start of the parade, a one-legged man known as 'One Star' entertained the crowd as he danced to the music from the truck.

His unique dancing styles had everyone laughing and he claimed he used to be a dancer and the love of music urged him on.

"Yeah man, I love dancing. You know I was a dancer before I lost my foot," he said, "Sometime you have to make use of things and a long time music don't come down here, so a just me this."

After being told the reason for the music One Star said, "How you mean man, me love floats."

The floats went through Cross Roads to New Kingston, and then stopped in Half-Way Tree Square. The parade was designed to encourage Jamaicans to participate in the Street Parade and Grand Gala set for Independence Day, Wednesday, August 6.