THE DIARY GAME: Traces of Time Unfold; Highlights from Calabar Carnival’s First Dry Run 2025 ( OCTOBER 19TH, 2025 )

Greetings dearest steemians, am sure you all are doing good cause I am😊. Join me as I walk you through the vibrant kickoff of *The First Dry Run of Calabar Carnival 2025.* The first dry run of Carnival Calabar 2025 was officially flagged off on *Sunday,October 19th 2025* at *Millennium Park*, Calabar*, with a colourful display of culture, energy, and rhythm. The event was declared open by *His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu*, who emphasized on the importance of this year’s theme, *“Traces of Time”*, encouraging all bands to reflect deep cultural, historical, and futuristic narratives through their performances.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR _ The Governor flagging off the event}

After the flag-off, seven competing bands hit the carnival route with full energy, showcasing their interpretation of the theme through vibrant costumes, symbolic choreography, and music. Judges were stationed at key points along the route to assess each band’s performance. I will talk about each in the order of their ranking.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_Its about to go down💥}

*1st Position – Freedom Band* Freedom Band delivered a powerful and seamless performance, creatively showing the journey of humanity through different ages. Their choreography was disciplined and symbolic, backed by bold visuals that captivated both judges and spectators, am not gonna lie, they were exceptional💯💯

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ Freedom Band💟}

*2nd Position – Seagull Band* The Seagull band stood out with their elegance and thematic clarity. Their portrayal of time through natural cycles and generations was moving, well-paced and practical, earning them second place with grace and creativity.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ Seagull Band🧡}

*3rd Position – Calas Vegas* Calas Vegas combined drama and artistry, using bold props and futuristic themes. Their showmanship was high, and their costumes and musical blend created a performance that was both fun, captivating and thematic.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ Calas Vegas Band🌟}

*4th Position – Passion 4* Passion 4 presented a strong, Afrocentric display, emphasizing tradition and the transformation of African identity through time. Although visually impressive, a few coordination gaps may have kept them from placing higher, I wouldn't blame them cause there were victims of time constraint.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ Passion4 Band💚}

*5th Position – Diamond Band* Diamond Band brought a thoughtful performance that symbolized the shaping of resilience and strength over time. While creative, their execution lacked some consistency and coordination.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ Diamond Band}

*6th Position– Bayside Band* Bayside went for a lively, community-driven concept but faced issues with synchronization and flow. Their performance was bright and spirited but didn’t fully carry the depth and description of the theme.

^{Shoot from IphoneXR_ Bayside Band💙}

*7th Position– Masta Blasta Band* Masta Blasta band, usually a crowd-puller, had a quieter performance this time. Despite bold colours and presence, their theme interpretation and coordination didn’t meet expectations, resulting in a seventh-place finish.

^{Shoot from Iphone XR_ The Masta Blasta Band✨}

This dry run was not only a rehearsal but a reflection of how each band is preparing eagerly to bring “Traces of Time” to life on the grand stage in December. With more rehearsals ahead, the competition is wide open, and expectations are sky high.

^{Shoot from IphoneXR_ Longest Street party in Africa for a reason😉💕}

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BYEE👋💋