Today, we had a solid turn-out of ten walkers: Susan, Linda, Marilyn, Deborah, Judi, Ken, Helga, my friend Anna, 'moi' Virginia, and Lorna whom we met at Lonsdale Quay, our destination for the annual Caribbean Festival. This free event is organized by the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of B.C. and is held on a weekend in July at Waterfront Park just west of the Quay Market ( http://www.caribbeandays.ca/ ). 
At the outset, our group split up to browse individually or in pairs and let me know whether they would be staying on or leaving early. This is standard practice so that we don't lose anyone during our outing. As it happened, we did miss Lorna at a prearranged time and place
We entered the park under a canopy containing donation barrels. Contributors received a colourful booklet containing a map of the grounds and congratulatory messages from sponsoring businesses and all levels of government. I wanted to take some of the background and cultural information from this publication but misplaced it (yes, I donated!); instead, I will tell what I saw.
The festival grounds were set up in three groupings. Past the entrance, under a small grove of trees, were canopied stalls selling silk, rayon and cotton tops, shorts, pants, skirts, dresses, and shawls in brightly coloured patterns. These stalls were mobbed by overdressed festival goers. One stall sold beautiful African carvings, leather goods and large bead and carved jewellery. Other stalls sold a variety of beaded jewellery, silver chains, gemstone pendants, and rings of all types. Anna found a silk top in the open market. I didn't see the necklace I was looking for until we went into the Quay Market where I found exactly the chain and crystal pendant I wanted.
Out in the open area were the children's play area with games and face painting; refreshment vendors were selling ice cream treats, ginger beer and fresh lemonade, while dancers performed with a rousing Caribbean band on the outdoor stage. Another area contained large tents where hot food was served. Long line-ups prevented most of us from checking out the spicy menus. I thoroughly enjoyed a large glass of chilled lemonade (with real lemons) for $4.
The temperature was in the high 20's so we retreated occasionally to share the shaded lawns with dozens of other people. By 1:00 pm, most of our group had left. The seabus was packed but the skytrain was partially empty so our ride back to the Drive was pleasant.
TROUT LAKE LANTERN FESTIVAL
At 7:45 pm, after a light supper, Anna and I were preparing to go to Trout Lake Park for the Luminara Festival when the skies broke out in thunder and rain began falling. Anna went home, so my neighbour Aideen joined me. With our umbrellas open, we entered the park. Thunder and lightning roared and crackled across the sky. Long bolts of lightning hit the earth to the east. We continued with some trepidation, recalling warnings about staying away from trees and avoiding open spaces. I closed my umbrella and prayed that no lightning would strike us.
My guess is there were about 1,000 people in the park, most of whom were huddled under the huge leafy trees; many were walking about with their pointy umbrellas; and a stilt-walker, dancing to the beat of drums, was waving a baton over his head. At this point, I appealed to the gods of thunder and lightning to stay away from the lake and the festival; after all, I told them, these people were celebrating life and light and obviously enjoyed the crashing thunder as they cheered every bolt of lightning that streaked the sky. Then the skies really opened up and showed us what a downpour was, which lasted about 10 minutes.
Because of the sudden unexpected change from hot-humid to thunderstorm, the fireworks portion of this festival was cancelled and only a few lanterns were set out, but it didn't stop the drummers or the two small bands that marched through the crowds playing their celebratory music.
I would say it was a successful festival of the human spirit and nature's incredible power.
Contributor Virginia
At the outset, our group split up to browse individually or in pairs and let me know whether they would be staying on or leaving early. This is standard practice so that we don't lose anyone during our outing. As it happened, we did miss Lorna at a prearranged time and place
We entered the park under a canopy containing donation barrels. Contributors received a colourful booklet containing a map of the grounds and congratulatory messages from sponsoring businesses and all levels of government. I wanted to take some of the background and cultural information from this publication but misplaced it (yes, I donated!); instead, I will tell what I saw.
The festival grounds were set up in three groupings. Past the entrance, under a small grove of trees, were canopied stalls selling silk, rayon and cotton tops, shorts, pants, skirts, dresses, and shawls in brightly coloured patterns. These stalls were mobbed by overdressed festival goers. One stall sold beautiful African carvings, leather goods and large bead and carved jewellery. Other stalls sold a variety of beaded jewellery, silver chains, gemstone pendants, and rings of all types. Anna found a silk top in the open market. I didn't see the necklace I was looking for until we went into the Quay Market where I found exactly the chain and crystal pendant I wanted.
Out in the open area were the children's play area with games and face painting; refreshment vendors were selling ice cream treats, ginger beer and fresh lemonade, while dancers performed with a rousing Caribbean band on the outdoor stage. Another area contained large tents where hot food was served. Long line-ups prevented most of us from checking out the spicy menus. I thoroughly enjoyed a large glass of chilled lemonade (with real lemons) for $4.
The temperature was in the high 20's so we retreated occasionally to share the shaded lawns with dozens of other people. By 1:00 pm, most of our group had left. The seabus was packed but the skytrain was partially empty so our ride back to the Drive was pleasant.
TROUT LAKE LANTERN FESTIVAL
At 7:45 pm, after a light supper, Anna and I were preparing to go to Trout Lake Park for the Luminara Festival when the skies broke out in thunder and rain began falling. Anna went home, so my neighbour Aideen joined me. With our umbrellas open, we entered the park. Thunder and lightning roared and crackled across the sky. Long bolts of lightning hit the earth to the east. We continued with some trepidation, recalling warnings about staying away from trees and avoiding open spaces. I closed my umbrella and prayed that no lightning would strike us.
My guess is there were about 1,000 people in the park, most of whom were huddled under the huge leafy trees; many were walking about with their pointy umbrellas; and a stilt-walker, dancing to the beat of drums, was waving a baton over his head. At this point, I appealed to the gods of thunder and lightning to stay away from the lake and the festival; after all, I told them, these people were celebrating life and light and obviously enjoyed the crashing thunder as they cheered every bolt of lightning that streaked the sky. Then the skies really opened up and showed us what a downpour was, which lasted about 10 minutes.
Because of the sudden unexpected change from hot-humid to thunderstorm, the fireworks portion of this festival was cancelled and only a few lanterns were set out, but it didn't stop the drummers or the two small bands that marched through the crowds playing their celebratory music.
I would say it was a successful festival of the human spirit and nature's incredible power.
Contributor Virginia
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