Step onto the Caribbean islands without having to even book a flight as the Mill Race Center hosts Carnival VIP, a celebration of a combination of cultures in Columbus.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, co-host Debra Peters-Smith and her husband Garth Smith have been residents of Columbus for 10 years. Peters-Smith said they created Carnival VIP eight years ago with the goal to bring the celebration of Carnival to the area. The celebration, which is usually held a couple days before Ash Wednesday, features brightly colored costumes and masqueraders, steel pan music, parades and food, she said.
“The only thing that I’ve seen similar to that here in the U.S. is the Mardi Gras and that’s, as you know, held in New Orleans around the same time,” Peters-Smith said.
According to Peters-Smith, Carnival VIP integrates both the Carnival and Mardi Gras festivals together for a combination of cultures. She said this year’s celebration will feature a live Calypso music performance from Sir Skarz, and DJ Dr, Hyde, a popular DJ in Trinidad. DJ Smooth G will also be performing and steel pan music will be played, she said.
“We also have a band direct from Trinidad that’s going to be sending some of their costumes up for people to be on display and that’s called We Mas,” Peters-Smith said. “So that’s also a band that is very popular in Trinidad as well and they’re sending up some of their costumes for a band launch during the celebration.”
Attendees will also be given a free mask, beads and glow sticks at the door in the spirit of Mardi Gras. A wide selection of authentic Caribbean food like geera pork, doubles and curry chicken will be available for purchase.
“You’re definitely going to want to visit the food section and experience the food. It’s all going to be just welcoming, warm island vibes,” Peters-Smith said. “It’s like if you got off a cruise ship.”
What started out as a small commemoration sharing a tradition from their country has grown throughout the years, Peters-Smith said. She said this is their first year hosting the event in a large space like the Mill Race Center. With Carnival VIP, she said they are trying to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere as if you just arrived in the Caribbean Islands as you walk in.
“We wanted to share, because this festival is so big and it’s just so… magnetic. It’s something… it can’t be explained, it can only be experienced,” Peters-Smith said. ”So we’ve been trying to really create that experience that is Carnival here in Columbus so that other people can experience that without having to jump on a plane and go over there. Or maybe after coming to one of our events, they add that to their travel calendar, like ‘hey, I really want to go and experience more of this.’”
Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Mill Race Center. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased on Eventbrite or at the door. Funds raised during the event will go towards the event’s future growth, Peters-Smith said.
