TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2025: A REVIEW OF SPIRIT MAS
I don’t know what it is about the electricity of sweet T&T during carnival time, but it feels like a descent upon a fantastical universe where your primary obligation is to have the time of your life and your only concerns are whether you should indulge in copious amounts of rum or get champagne-wasted.
This is Year 6 of visiting Trinidad & Tobago for Carnival and it was spectacular as always. I typically prefer to play mas with a different band during each trip in order to diversify my experience, however Spirit Mas gave me the “I shall return”.
Spirit Mas was pretty amazing overall last year, so much so I had to see whether the plaudits will be repeated during their sophomore year. And that it was.
Actually, BETTER.
Band Launch
It looks like Spirit Mas is sticking with July 31st as their staple band launch date moving forward, and I love that. It is a smart strategy to have a precise date to circle on your calendar in anticipation. One can even plan way in advance to attend in person, if they so choose.
The theme this year was Spirit Island, a cultural and geographical celebration of Trinidad & Tobago. The launch show was entertaining and the costume designs were far more sophisticated (in my opinion) than last year. They welcomed new designers to the team - Nakita Hyatali, Trishelle Leacock and Kriston Milano - and added two additional costumes to the roster, giving us a total of 9 sections. Like last year, the models showcased all of the bodywear options for each section, so we did not have to wait until the website launch to take a look at the backline options.
There were a couple of costumes I liked right off the bat and a few more that I warmed up to when the official pictures were released. It was pretty difficult making a choice.
It was also frustrating to have to wait for an additional three weeks before the website was live - and therefore, the ability to peruse the price points - but I prevailed. The base cost of the costume packages increased by about $100 USD, with more significant increases noticeable in the pricing of the feather backpacks.
Registration
My registration experience was a breeze. In May 2024, the band gave past masqueraders the opportunity to pre-register by submitting a non-refundable deposit of $250. Pre-registration meant we were guaranteed a spot in the band and had our first choice of the 2025 costumes (within a certain timeframe). Following the euphoria of mas just 3 months prior, I jumped at the opportunity without hesitation, still unclear about whether I was actually going back to Trinidad in 2025.
Anyone else feel the pressure of choice when you are forced to make a decision? This was me in August 2025 when registration finally began. Before I received the email from Spirit, I knew which costume I wanted. The minute I received the email, uncertainty creeped up. I was paying a large sum of money, therefore I needed to be sure, sure. This happens to me all the time, no matter the carnival and no matter how in love I am with a costume. Miss-Indecisive-Sandi will make an appearance.
I usually don’t go for the super colourful, eclectic-looking costumes but given that this was a tearful “au revoir” to Trinidad Carnival, I wanted to go big and bold. I registered in the Botanica section with the large backpack and tails. It was a sexy costume and its claim to fame was the gorgeous tulle and polyester floral backpack. Full transparency: it cost a total of approximately $2,300 inclusive of the 7% online platform payment fee. A DAMN GRIP.
Now, while registration was easy and simple for me, I cannot ignore that it was a highly stressful process for non-pre-registered masqueraders who were trying to get in the band, especially those getting in for the first time.
When there is secrecy in a process, rumours are bound to develop, pick up steam and be passed along as truth. I think Spirit should have been more transparent about their registration process; maybe even prep the masses for the difficulty by indicating how many spots they were vying for. But they did give a heads up when they stated, “Please note, there are limited spots available due to the size of the band and overwhelming demand”.
Let’s be clear: potential masqueraders were not being chosen on the basis of race and colourism, body type, last name or whatever marker of privilege and societal inclination were mentioned in the whispers. It was simply a first-come/first serve rat race where a large number of people were ultimately going to be disappointed.
Luckily, my two friends who hadn’t played with the band last year requested as soon as registration opened up and received a registration link.
BAND Communication
While the band was less active on social media this year, I was able to get quick answers from the customer sales representatives via e-mail within 24 hours. Communication time did slow down the closer we got to carnival, but most of my questions were addressed on their website.
The band created a Masquerader Guide on their website which was released about a month before carnival and was very helpful. It provided costume distribution dates, times and location, meeting times and meeting locations, food menus, costume tutorials, road and safety tips and more.
Another thing that was extremely helpful on Carnival Monday and Tuesday was the band’s use of its Whatsapp channel to inform masqueraders of the band’s location every 30 minutes to an hour. Given Trinidad’s poor mobile network service this year, it was an invaluable addition to me. My advice would be to expand their use of it throughout the months leading up to carnival.
Costume Collection
Spirit shared the distribution schedule in early Febrary, almost a month before carnival day. I have never experienced that before, and I was very grateful! I could organize my time and plan with my driver way in advance.
Again, like last year, it was a seamless distribution experience at MovieTowne. Not long after I checked in and took a seat, I was given a cool drink. The music was jamming, the MC calling the names was hosting his ass off and I was in a great mood. My name blared over the speakers and I was called over to a CSR who reviewed the contents of my box and handed over my large backpack.
I was quite worried about my backpack meeting my expectations and looking like the prototype. I am not going to lie, I was a bit burned last year. Spirit proved I had nothing to fear because it was just as sturdy, beautiful and majestically full as the pictures, and not a pinch of glitter or piece of feather out of sight.
With the help of an attendant who carried my large backpack for me, I walked over to the fitting rooms to try on my costume. At first, I wanted to try on the bra and panty, but because I was in a rush to go to a fete, I decided to only try on the panty (which fit great) and pray the bra fit when I got home.
What was in our Goodie Bag?
This year, we received a duffel bag filled to the brim with goodies. I was handed the blush pink bag, but there were other colourways available for the men and women. Check out the contents!
Costume
Overall, I loved my costume but it came with some mixed feelings. The bra and panty were beautiful and the neck piece was superb. It was a gorgeous costume, but the accessory pieces that brought the look together were not secure or well-constructed. I tried to make it work with the wrist piece but got irritated with trying to loop the strings. I abandoned the shoulder/arm piece altogether because it was tough to figure out and quite uncomfortable. It was a bit disappointing to not be able to wear the complete costume as it was intended but I got over it.
I was able to do a photoshoot a few days before carnival and I am so glad I did! While I wanted to take my gorgeous backpack on the road, I knew it was going to be a huge hassle maneuvering the crowd with how gigantic it was.
Expectation vs Reality
Is it like the prototype or nah?
THE ROAD EXPERIENCE
Carnival Monday: 11/10
Carnival Tuesday: 7/10
Spoiler: I will play mas with Spirit again in a heartbeat. It was not perfect but it was the best bang for buck, and I saw exactly where my investment went. Trust and believe, I made use of almost every amenity offered.
Carnival Monday
For reasons beyond my control…ahem makeup…I did not arrive at brunch until around 12pm. So I had an hour to make the most of it. When the band pulled off, I wanted to get on the road litty and ready to pump IMMEDIATELY. And did.
I filled myself with delicious food. There were so many choices! I started with the shortest line and worked my way through as many options as I could with the limited time I had. I had glasses of champagne and mimosas, a couple of cocktails and poptails and made friends with a few float bartenders who mixed my main drink of the day (Hennessy & coconut water) just right.
Like last year, there was a makeup touch up station and a few photo-op areas. In my haze of getting food and topping up my cup every 15 minutes, I remember Skinny Fabulous, Nailah Blackman and Lyrikal performing.
The trucks started to move at around 1:15pm but my friends and I lingered in the brunch spot for probably another 30-45minutes drinking more champagne, taking photos, grabbing some eats and making the most of arriving late to brunch.
We caught up with the band easily enough. The first thing we grabbed was coffee from the 5AM Club truck. I had a caramel macchiato and my friend got a French vanilla caramel latte. Delicious! And the zing I needed to be on my feet for the next 6 hours.
Drinks were a little harder to get this year because of the additional people with some far busier than others. Luckily, getting drinks at the Hennessy cart was quick and simple. They had a lot of water runners and section-themed shooters. The Botanica one was pretty sweet but good.
I was already in a zone by the time I was on the road so I do not remember how many drink and music trucks we had - I believe there were 5 of each. There were 5 recovery buses. The music, while repetitive in instances, was very good and the hype crew was great. Grenadian and Dominican soca maintained a solid presence on the turntables. We stuck around trucks 1 & 2 for the most part and they were A BIG VIBE.
As we approached St. James, the traditional mas characters brought even more life to the crowd. Intertwined among the masqueraders were Dame Lorraines, Baby Dolls, Moko Jumbies and Blue Devils spurting fire. The magic of spectating and engaging during mas, masqueraders and non-masqueraders alike, was a reminder of what carnival was about: the protest, the mocking, the mimicry. I loved seeing the excited children in their backyards or the people peeking through their fences to watch.
Monday was a movieeeeeee!
Carnival Tuesday
My Tuesday started very rough and never quite reached equilibrium, if I am being honest. Despite arriving at 6:30am, 30 minutes before my makeup appointment, my makeup was not complete until 10:30am. And y’all know 10:30am is late! Spirit had already been on the road for about 4 hours at that point. Just thinking about it boils my blood all over again. Suffice to say, my mood affected my perspective of the day a bit. I went into Carnival Tuesday annoyed and on edge.
12PM: I made it to the Savannah in the nick of time. I sprinted like a mad woman to join my section in crossing the stage. I would have been on a rampage if I missed the stage crossing so although I missed several hours on the road with the band, I am thankful I was able to cross the stage on a positive note and begin my day.
I met up with some friends after the stage and we chipped down to the lunch spot. I got a little music in, a little drinking in, a little dancing in. But that heat, you guys! I was so relieved I did not wear my full costume on Tuesday - I left my backpack at home, as well as the arm and shoulder pieces. I came bare bones ready to let loose and enjoy myself!
1:30PM: We walked ahead of the band and the lines were still on the short side by the time we arrived at the lunch spot. Therefore, getting food was pretty quick for me. I had some absolutely delicious grilled meats and I went back for seconds. I went for a second (or is it third) meal where my wristband was scanned as I joined the line. I was also able to get a beef brisket meal with garlic & herb roasted potatoes. YUM!!
The lunch spot was set up similarly to last year, but with the growth of the band, it felt a bit cramped. They had a decent amount of shaded areas, but still not enough for the band size. The AC tent was available to everyone but it was quite full by the time we arrived. I did squeeze my way in to cool down and eat but it grew a little uncomfortable after a while. I probably stayed for only 20 minutes. I drank copious amounts of coconut water to hydrate and tried to decompress in spite of the heat.
I would have liked to get my makeup retouched, but getting a massage was way more important to me. Luckily I had two! I went back in the AC tent for a shoulder massage by a masseuse. I also checked out the foot massage machine station. There were 8-10 of them timed at 10 mins per person, so the wait wasn’t too long.
This year, I did not see a backpack holding station or a coconut stand. It would be great if they would bring those back. You know what they can remove altogether? The hookah lounge. I was annoyed to see that it was a bigger area this year, taking up valuable space that could have been used for more seats and shade. There was a portable charging station inside the AC tent, and an area to rejuvenate your skin and re-up your sunscreen on the outside.
3:30PM: We were at the lunch spot for about two hours and it was time to get back on the road. I had a fun time on the road although I kept losing my friends. The band has grown in size so it was harder to track them down (as well as cell service being HORRIBLE this year). I recall hearing Alison Hinds performing on one of the trucks, which was a pleasant surprise.
The heat was killing me so I went to a recovery bus to cool down. On the bus, they served snacks and candy bars, there was water and gatorade and the AC was blasting gloriously. I was probably there for about 20 minutes while trying to figure out where my friends had disappeared to. We finally found each other and turned up a bit on the road. The music was pumping and I was getting my life. However, by the time I was finally getting into the swing of things, we reached Fatima Grounds for Climax. What do you mean the trucks have stopped??? How irritating.
5:50PM: When I arrived at Climax, my priority was to get some food. The line I was in was so disorganized and people were acting like they had not just had food a few hours prior. Not enough decorum for me.
There were a lot more food options this year. There was KFC, as well as roasted meats, doubles, wings, tacos and more. I found my friends again after getting some food and wss finally in the mood to enjoy myself. I would have wanted an additional hour on the road but I was determined to enjoy my night. And that I did.
Do they switch the DJs out at Climax or something? They were playing like their lives depended on it. Hit after hit after hit after hit, current and old. Then the performances started and the energy ramped up some more. Bunji Garlin, Mical Teja, GBM Nutron and Voice took the stage and did their thing. The firework presentation was perfection!
The drinks were flowing without end and available from all the float bars and carts. I had my fill of champagne and all the liquors. Coconut water was available until the very end!
Would I say Climax made up for having less time on the road? To an extent. I had a great time those final 2.5 hours. I fully left my worries behind and enjoyed my time thoroughly. I stayed a little longer this year. I still would have appreciated more time on the road.
9:15PM: I stayed a little longer at Climax this year and wish I could have stayed until the sound man packed up his belongings. I went home happily tipsy and grateful I was blessed enough to experience the joy of mas once more.
Where can Spirit Mas Improve?
As a second-year returning masquerader, the rapid growth of the band was expected and unmistakeable and definitely made the experience different. Different is not always bad, though: I loved the diversity of the masqueraders; I felt like there were more people ready to free up and dance on.
However, with more people comes more issues:
Getting drinks from the float bars was a struggle at some points. There were so many people and perhaps, not enough drink trucks? Another suggestion is perhaps the MC’s need to occasionally announce that people can grab drinks on both sides of the truck in order to loosen the congestion.
Like I mentioned, the lunch spot seemed more crowded. I believe we have outgrown the current space at St. James Police Barracks with this increased band size. It would be great if we could find another lunch spot that can accommodate a larger crowd, while maintaining the amenities, improving the seating and providing wide & varied food options to which we have grown accustomed. To me, that is the simpler solution.
My biggest gripe was the band arriving at Climax before sunset. I do not play mas to just eat and lime and I felt like I spent a good chunk of the day doing that - two hours at the lunch spot eating and drinking and then 2 hours later, doing the same thing. That is what fetes are for. The road is for THE ROAD. I wanted more time and I feel like things always get way more fun when it is cooler and the sun is going down. Definitely one of the reasons Climax is unmatched.
An argument could be made about getting to the band first thing in the morning so that I get my much-needed time on the road early. You are not wrong. An argument can also be made about safety on the road after dark. I hear you, but this was the first Trinidad Carnival Tuesday I experienced that ended (on the road) while there was still light out. I hope they would aim to get to Climax at 6:30pm or 7pm and enjoy a good 3-4 hour Las Lap after that.
Please provide a backpack truck where we can deposit our backpacks after lunch, as well as luxury, AC trailer bathrooms on the road. Very happy they are available at brunch, lunch stop and Climax, but I would like them on the road as well. These amenities make a difference.
Can we cross a stage on Monday? This is a definitive part of carnival and is necessary, in my opinion.
Despite the growing pains, Spirit Mas still ranks very highly in my book. Once more, they provided my favorite mas experience of any band I have played in at any carnival.
I don’t know when I will be back in Trinidad for carnival, but Spirit will maintain its position at the top of my list. I hope the improvements continue and I still have a place in the band upon my return to the Greatest Show On Earth.
How did you enjoy Trinidad & Tobago Carnival 2025? Tell me about your experience in your band!
SPIRIT MAS JUKEBOX 2025
Carry It
Pardy
Too Own Way
Blessing
Greatest Bend Over
Energy
Thousand
Bamcie
Stagga Dance
One Piece
Road Meeting
Jamtown
Fling It Up
Good Spirits
Throwback
Down Dey
No Sweetness
Someone Else
Slip In
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