Here's who's headlining Coquitlam's biggest summer tropical party

One of the best Soca musicians from Trinidad and Tobago will close the Caribbean Days Festival in Coquitlam next week.

Farmer Nappy will be on the Town Centre Park stage at 6 p.m. next Sunday, July 28, to wrap up the two-day celebration that’s hosted by the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC.

“He’s one of the top Soca artists from Trinidad,” society president and Trinidadian Marilyn Perrin told the Tri-City News on Wednesday, July 17, during an interview at Town Centre Park.

Nappy’s upbeat performance and tunes will cap off the free festivities that typically see about 60,000 visitors over the weekend who soak in the sounds, taste the fare from Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados and other Caribbean islands, and enjoy the laid-back vibe.

This year, co-chairs Avita Sharma and Dharrol Alves are switching things up by extending the beer tent hour to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 and including a Backyard Jam — a showdown featuring the talents of nine DJs from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the tent:

DJ Denise
DJ Hoppa
DJ I:Cube
DJ Real West
DJ Rexx
Grindhouse Sound
Redemption Sound
DJ Kenyo
Selecta Abel

Still, there’ll be other favourite attractions such as a marketplace, kids zone, cultural centre and colourful parades: The main procession is on July 27 at 11 a.m. while, on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m., children can dress up in carnival costumes for their display.

Tropical food, drinks

As for Caribbean nosh, the two parking lots in Lot D will be filled with 20 food trucks serving, among other things, roti (a round flatbread); doubles (curried chickpeas on two fried flatbreads); jerk chicken; and pholourie (fried, spiced split pea and flour dough balls).

As well, the society will have a goodies booth to sell authentic Trinidadian treats such as cassava pone (yuca cake); rum cake; kurma (cookie); currant balls; and sweet bread.

And for beverages, there will be non-alcoholic drinks plus, for adults, liquids from Coquitlam’s Mariner Brewing, Carib beer, seltzers and spike Jamaican ginger beer. A water station will also be available.

Perrin said she’s grateful to the City of Coquitlam for helping with festival costs, which continue to rise post–pandemic.

To offset bills, the society plans to seek more corporate sponsorship and create more relationships with businesses.

Fees for vendors did not go up this year “because we know that their costs have increased, too. Everything is going up.”

Heid Hughes, Coquitlam's manager of tourism and visitor economy, told the Tri-City News today, July 18, that the civic park will be "buzzing with energy" next weekend.

"With perfect summer weather setting the scene, the festival is free to attend, and promises a vibrant carnival parade, tropical Caribbean music and a plethora of flavourful food options. This multicultural and diverse festival truly puts Coquitlam centre stage as destination for people from across the region to visit."

Hughes said the spin-offs for City Centre eateries and retail locations, including Coquitlam Centre, will be significant as festival attendees will be out and about.

Volunteers sought

Volunteers are needed for four- or eight-hour shifts each day; in return, the society supplies a festival T-shirt and a snack and/or meal. For those in high school, a letter can be obtained for graduation credit.

To apply, you can visit the Caribbean Days Festival website.

@tricitynews Island party. 🏝️😎 #tricitynews #coquitlam #caribbean #caribbeantiktok #caribbeandays #caribbeandayscoquitlam ♬ Famalay - Skinny Fabulous & Machel Montano & Bunji Garlin

Festival details

Entry to the festival is free; however, dogs must be on leash. There is also no smoking allowed in the park and no outside alcohol is allowed. Bags will be subject to search by security on site.

Get there

Park your two wheels with the bike valet or hop on SkyTrain to the Lafarge Lake–Douglas station at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way).

Entertainment lineup

Saturday, July 27