Caribbean Culture Takes Over The Streets Of Raleigh

Mas revelers in Raleigh, NC on Sat. Aug. 22, 2015. (Observer image)

News Americas, RALEIGH, N.C., Mon. Aug. 24, 2015: The Caribbean population in North Carolina is growing, especially in Raleigh, and on Saturday the cultures of the Caribbean took over the streets of the Triangle.

Hundreds of Caribbean nationals gathered for the fourth annual CaribMask festival along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.

The carnival like event features sequined costumed revelers gyrating to soca and calypso music.

Over carnival-clad mas troupes following trucks blasting soca music started out at Edenton and Salisbury streets and made their way down to the front of the old State Capitol grounds onto Fayetteville Street.

Marcia Knight, president of the Raleigh-Durham Caribbean Association, has sponsored the event since 2012.

“CaribMask is our signature event every year,” Knight told the Observer. “Our mission is to promote diversity and greater appreciation for Caribbean culture and support positive things throughout the community.”