April 28, 2008 — The JDPP (Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Program) Jammerz are the Carnival Road March champions for the second year in a row, winning this year's title with their Flintstones inspired hit "Bed Rock."
JDPP made their presence known with appearances in both 2008 Children's and Adult's parades. Dressed up as characters from the popular cartoon, the group's routine included dance performances from both Gov. John deJongh Jr. and Lt. Gov. Gregory R. Francis, who dressed up as Fred Flintstone during Saturday's event.
Bouncers Band came in first runner up in the Road March category with "Skip 'n' Dip."
In the Children's Parade, the Fete'Tastique Carnival Troupe won Best Troupe under 50 with their presentation of "Any Weather is Great to Celebrate." The group's members dressed up on Friday in rain, sunshine, rainbow and thunderstorm outfits and performed their routine to live music provided by Bouncers Band. The Cancryn in Session Carnival Troupe won in the category of Best Troupe Over 50.
Best Floupe this year went to the V.I. Montessori School, whose "2008 Peace Train Escape" routine won much applause during the Children's Parade, as both students and teachers tramped down Main Street dressed as angels, rainbows and Greek figures wearing laurel-leaf crowns on their heads.
The St. Thomas Majorettes took first place in the Best Majorettes category, while the Charming Twirlers came in first-runner up with their tribute to the late Jam Band singer Trevor Nicholas "Nick" Friday. The Sebastien Majorettes were second runners up.
Best Traditional Troupe in the Children's Parade went to the Tropical Masqueraders, whose members braved Friday's heat and humidity in purple and white velvet costumes, with original spray-paint artwork featured on their capes.
Fete'Tastique also won big in the Adult's Parade categories, taking the award for Best Troupe with 50 to 100 members. The group's routine on Saturday paid tribute to the territory's rich heritage and culture, with members wearing V.I. flag costumes or feathered pieces colored in ice, gold and green. Part of the routine was set to quelbe music, while the last section of members roused the crowd by using jump ropes to move to the "Skip 'n' Dip."
This year's first runner up was the Gypsies Carnival Troupe, who took the audience on a trip to the Emerald City of Oz, with members dressing up in Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion costumes. The Gypsies also won Best Float, for a life-size replica of Oz's green castle.
Second runner up was the Intrigue Carnival Troupe.
Best Troupe Over 100 went to the Infernos Carnival Troupe, whose presentation this year was entitled "In Full Bloom," in commemoration of their 100th anniversary. Best Floupe Under 100 went to the Gentlemen of Jones out of St. Croix, whose "Knights of Arabia" theme included a gigantic Taj Mahal float.
Elskoe and Associates won Best Floupe with 100 to 300 members. Divided into multiple sections with a variety of different costumes, the group's members paid tribute to the late Faye Liburd, who passed away last July.
Sparkle Lite Twirlers won first place in the Majorettes category, followed by the Charming Twirlers and the St. Croix Majorettes, who won first and second runner up, respectively.
Chester "Mighty Groover" Brady took the award for Best Individual entry, with a presentation entitled "Sweet Quelbe and Culture in a Tropical Paradise," while Best Traditional in the Adult's Parade went, as it so often does, to the Traditional Indians.
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