The official launch of the 40th anniversary of Vincy Mas will be held at Carnival City Victoria Park on Saturday, May 6.

But while persons will gather at the Victoria Park for top class entertainment, launch activities that will focus on all the components of the festival will be held throughout the day.

Starting at 10 a.m., whistle stops will be held on both the Leeward and Windward sides of the island. Xtreme 104.3 FM will handle the Windward side, while Hitz 103.7 FM will provide entertainment on the Leeward side.

The FLOW promenade on Halifax Street will also be filled with activities, as 13 junior soca and calypso performers have already confirmed participation in a mini concert. Steel pan music and a number of soca artistes will also entertain on the promenade.

After the action on the promenade ceases, the celebration train/street parade will take place and will see the various components take to the streets.

Expected to patrol the streets are pan-around-the-neck musicians, “Boosie Back”, stilt men, mas men and the 2017 Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines contestants, among others. Former Miss SVG contestants will also take part in the parade, while the winners from the various competitions over the last 40 years will be on the Carnival Development Corporation’s (CDC) float.

During the parade, disc jockey “Jude the Cool Dude” will entertain with music from the past 40 years of Carnival.

During the Victoria Park segment of the launch, “DJ Donovan” and “DJ Fugitive” will provide music, while the 2017 Miss SVG contestants will make their first public appearance. Patrons who pay EC$10 to enter the park will also get a glimpse of the various mas bands that will take part in Mardi Gras this year.

There will be no competitions held at the launch this year.

The highlight of the launch will be performances by a number of FLOW Soca artistes, dubbed “Heavy Hitters”. These artistes include Delroy “Fireman” Hooper and Gamal “Skinny Fabulous” Doyle.

Also scheduled to perform are “Ozari”, “Flanka”, “Fya Empress” and “Skarpyon”.

Persons are being encouraged to wear their Monday band T-shirts from years gone by.