AFTER months of intensive preparations, the 2013 Port Harcourt Carnival (CARNIRIV) will start today at the Liberation Stadium with the Children’s Carnival.

Prior to today’s opening, the Garden City had been agog with groups from the 23 local councils putting finishing touches to their rehearsals for the fiesta which runs till Saturday. They concluded their rehearsals during the week and are now raring to entertain revellers and catch fun too.

Apart from the intensive preparations, the venues for the carnival activities have been given a face-lift, with the Liberation Stadium, which also doubles as the carnival village, getting a major makeover.

The stadium will host today’s children’s’ carnival, the official opening ceremonies, Dance of Fireflies (DOFF), Cultural Arts Exhibition, Egelege: Champions of the Sand Arena, Ekere: Rhythm of the Tribes, HOSH Jam: Port Harcourt Exclusive, Black Africa Music Festival (BAMFest), Reggae 360 and the World Peace Concert and closing ceremonies.

Stadium Road, venue of the CARNIVAL Praise Jam, has also been renovated while the Lagos Bus Stop/Aggrey Road, venue of the Pilgrimage ’88 and Old Port Harcourt Town Groove is not left out. The Port Harcourt Tourist Beach has also been beautified in readiness for the International Aquatic Fiesta while Rumuola Road down to Aggrey Road have also been prepared for the International Heritage Parade.

The Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Dr. Sam Dede, while briefing on the fiesta during the week,   assured participants of the readiness of the state to host them to another glamorous cultural and tourism fiesta.

-Guardian

Dede said everything was ready and that all logistics had been taken care of.  According to him, “We began to prepare well ahead of this year’s Green World Edition of CARNIRIV because of the importance Rivers State and indeed Rivers people attach to the carnival. As the days were counting down, we ensured that every person and groups that we had assigned certain responsibilities did what was expected so that we can all make CARNIRIV 2013 a long-lasting experience for the participants. ’’

It will be recalled that Governor Chibuike Amaechi had during the flag-off media conference for CARNIRIV 2013, said that the fiesta was strategically designed to deliver uncommon value and impact to all and sundry, hence the focus on the environment.