A group gathers before the Caribfest Parade to take a group photo with a flag of the Bahamas in the green space outside Clark Student Center where students got their bodies painted Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Flashy colors and upbeat music served as the highlights for about 300 people attending the CaribFest parade on Friday night.
“I just love the atmosphere here, man. I went last year, and loved everything I saw, but this year is much bigger,” Gerald Ezendu, a junior in nursing said.
Tim Torres, a sophomore in chemistry and biology, said, “It was good to see all the people and all the diversity. It was good to see the community together.”
Sponsored by the Caribbean Student Organization, the parade started at 5:30 p.m., about 30 minutes later than scheduled, and finished about an hour later. The queen showed up late, which put the flag waivers on edge.
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Tameka Stanley, a grad student in education said, “I don’t know where she is man, we’ve been waiting a while.”
While they were waiting to start, dozens of students were still getting their faced and bodies painted outside Pierce Residence Hall.
“I loved being able to paint my face, and I love all of the music. It had an upbeat, and positive feeling,” said Ashley Valdez, a freshman in pre-med.
Students also reacted to the cultural awareness this event brought to the campus.
Kenyah Abul’aleem, a freshman in general business, said, “I love seeing all of the culture and spirit that goes along with it. I don’t always feel like there is enough school spirit on this campus, but events like this give me hope.”
The brightly colored costumes, full of sequins and feathers — or sometimes not much, were also a big attraction.
Aireanna Chavez, a freshman in athletic training said “I like the paint, but separate from that, I love the costumes. They bring so much culture to this event.”
Other students that came to show support for the organizations and loved it.
“I like everything about it. The atmosphere, the colors and the flags that are being waved,” said Ezendu.
Even though the performers, particularly the 10 girls waving flags, made it look it easy, it took months of preparation to get everything ready.
“We have been practicing for a month, and we took 10 hours of each week to prepare,” said Stanley.
The organization of the event, including building the sound equipment and selecting the music, also took a long time.
“Building the float took a while to finish because of the intricate detail put int0 it. We started working on it in late June,” said Donna Lisa Nelson, a senior in biology.
Nelson said it was worth it to see the turnout and to help raise money for Dominica, which was hit by a tropical storm earlier in the year.
2015 CaribFest Parade
Francisco Ramos Armas, biology junior, gets his face and body painted in the Greenspace, that was provided by the University Programming Board, before the CaribFest Parade, that started between the parking lot behind Prothro-Yeager and the parking lot by the practice fields, it ended at the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Francisco Ramos Armas, biology junior, gets his face and body painted in the Greenspace, that was provided by the University Programming Board, before the CaribFest Parade, that started between the parking lot behind Prothro-Yeager and the parking lot by the practice fields, it ended at the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Francisco Ramos Armas, biology junior, gets his face and body painted in the Greenspace, that was provided by the University Programming Board, before the CaribFest Parade, that started between the parking lot behind Prothro-Yeager and the parking lot by the practice fields, it ended at the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Aireanna Chavez, atheltic training freshman, paints the face of Austun Lambert, undecided freshman, in the Green Space where student painted each other for the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Aireanna Chavez, atheltic training freshman, paints the face of Austun Lambert, undecided freshman, in the Green Space where student painted each other for the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Aireanna Chavez, atheltic training freshman, paints the face of Austun Lambert, undecided freshman, in the Green Space where student painted each other for the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
A group gathers before the Caribfest Parade to take a group photo with a flag of the Bahamas in the green space outside Clark Student Center where students got their bodies painted Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
A group gathers before the Caribfest Parade to take a group photo with a flag of the Bahamas in the green space outside Clark Student Center where students got their bodies painted Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
A group gathers before the Caribfest Parade to take a group photo with a flag of the Bahamas in the green space outside Clark Student Center where students got their bodies painted Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Students and participants in the CaribFest Parade 2015 start the parade in dance and song while waving the flags of different Caribbean islands, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Students and participants in the CaribFest Parade 2015 start the parade in dance and song while waving the flags of different Caribbean islands, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Students and participants in the CaribFest Parade 2015 start the parade in dance and song while waving the flags of different Caribbean islands, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Amy Hanley, management information system sophomore, takes a picture with Jorrey Martin, special education sophmore and MIss CaribFest 2015, at the beginning of the CaribFest Parade 2015, Sept. 25. "I know the queen, we have been friends for a while," Hanley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Amy Hanley, management information system sophomore, takes a picture with Jorrey Martin, special education sophmore and MIss CaribFest 2015, at the beginning of the CaribFest Parade 2015, Sept. 25. "I know the queen, we have been friends for a while," Hanley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Amy Hanley, management information system sophomore, takes a picture with Jorrey Martin, special education sophmore and MIss CaribFest 2015, at the beginning of the CaribFest Parade 2015, Sept. 25. "I know the queen, we have been friends for a while," Hanley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Richard Thomas, management information system junior, jumps while waving a bandana in the air following the truck playing festive Caribbean music during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Richard Thomas, management information system junior, jumps while waving a bandana in the air following the truck playing festive Caribbean music during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Richard Thomas, management information system junior, jumps while waving a bandana in the air following the truck playing festive Caribbean music during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Larissia Gumbs, psychology sophomore, Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore, and Joslyn Le Blanc, biology sophomore, get a picture taken of them during the beginning of the 2015 CaribFest Parade. Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Larissia Gumbs, psychology sophomore, Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore, and Joslyn Le Blanc, biology sophomore, get a picture taken of them during the beginning of the 2015 CaribFest Parade. Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Larissia Gumbs, psychology sophomore, Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore, and Joslyn Le Blanc, biology sophomore, get a picture taken of them during the beginning of the 2015 CaribFest Parade. Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Yvonne Albert, chemistry senior, carries one of the country's flags during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Yvonne Albert, chemistry senior, carries one of the country's flags during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Yvonne Albert, chemistry senior, carries one of the country's flags during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore and Miss CaribFest 2015, leads the part of the parade, behind the truck with the D.J. playing music, with dance in the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore and Miss CaribFest 2015, leads the part of the parade, behind the truck with the D.J. playing music, with dance in the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Jorrey Martin, special education sophomore and Miss CaribFest 2015, leads the part of the parade, behind the truck with the D.J. playing music, with dance in the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Theona Honore, continuing nursing student, leads the rest of the flag wavers during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Theona Honore, continuing nursing student, leads the rest of the flag wavers during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Theona Honore, continuing nursing student, leads the rest of the flag wavers during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, holds a flag while she dances along the truck blasting festive Caribbean music in the CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, holds a flag while she dances along the truck blasting festive Caribbean music in the CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, holds a flag while she dances along the truck blasting festive Caribbean music in the CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Iesha O'loughlin, accounting junior, and Shenice Walters, biology junior, dance as the 2015 CaribFest Parade goes down Council Dr. towards Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Iesha O'loughlin, accounting junior, and Shenice Walters, biology junior, dance as the 2015 CaribFest Parade goes down Council Dr. towards Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Iesha O'loughlin, accounting junior, and Shenice Walters, biology junior, dance as the 2015 CaribFest Parade goes down Council Dr. towards Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Iman Mendes, management information systems senior, dances along with other participants during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Iman Mendes, management information systems senior, dances along with other participants during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Iman Mendes, management information systems senior, dances along with other participants during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Bradley Wilson
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Participants in the 2015 CaribFest Parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags down Council Drive following a van with a D.J. and music, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Rainah Winston, biology and chemistry senior, fixes her head piece while she dancees during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Rainah Winston, biology and chemistry senior, fixes her head piece while she dancees during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Rainah Winston, biology and chemistry senior, fixes her head piece while she dancees during the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25. Photo by Kayla White
Nia White, political science junior, Barbara McGuire, criminal justice junior, and Kim Gundu, respiratory care junior, dance and sing behind a big truck blasting festive Caribbean music down Council Drive, turning onto Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Nia White, political science junior, Barbara McGuire, criminal justice junior, and Kim Gundu, respiratory care junior, dance and sing behind a big truck blasting festive Caribbean music down Council Drive, turning onto Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Nia White, political science junior, Barbara McGuire, criminal justice junior, and Kim Gundu, respiratory care junior, dance and sing behind a big truck blasting festive Caribbean music down Council Drive, turning onto Comanche Trail, Sept. 25. Photo by Rachel Johnson
Jake West, radiology sophomore, dances with other participants at the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Jake West, radiology sophomore, dances with other participants at the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Jake West, radiology sophomore, dances with other participants at the 2015 CaribFest Parade, Sept. 25, Photo by Bradley Wilson
Cecil Francis, engineering senior, helps Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, off his shoulders when the 2015 CaribFest Parade got to their final destinatio, the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Cecil Francis, engineering senior, helps Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, off his shoulders when the 2015 CaribFest Parade got to their final destinatio, the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
Cecil Francis, engineering senior, helps Orianna Law, nursing sophomore, off his shoulders when the 2015 CaribFest Parade got to their final destinatio, the Quad, Sept. 25. Photo by Francisco Martinez
