A heavy police presence guided thousands through Port-of-Spain on Sunday night, as steelpan lovers moved from pan yard to pan yard for the North Zone Panorama Preliminaries.
The famed “pan crawl” began at Desperadoes Steel Orchestra on George Street, starting later than the scheduled 7 pm time and continuing until nearly 1 am.
From Desperadoes, the crowd moved to Panorama 2024 champions Massy Trinidad All Stars at Neville Jules Junction, Duke Street, then onto last year’s joint champions BP Renegades on Charlotte Street, where a large screen had to be set up because of the massive turnout of supporters and spectators.
Judging proceeded at Nutrien Silver Stars on Tragarete Road before Invaders performed at the Queen’s Park Oval instead of their pan yard. The tour then headed to Phase II Pan Groove on Hamilton Street and concluded at Proman Starlift on Christopher Samuel Drive.
Some bands did their best to entertain pan lovers, with All Stars ending their performance with confetti, while Renegades opted for fireworks.
Six maxi taxis transported judges, VIPs, and dignitaries, including Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland, Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne, Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis and Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine. Speaker of the House of Representatives Bridgid Annisette-George was the only public official observed keenly taking in the events at every venue.
Yesterday, judging continued at First Citizens Supernovas in Surrey Village, Arouca, followed by Republic Bank Exodus on Eastern Main Road, St Augustine. Tonight, judging moves to the southland, beginning at Heritage Petroleum Siparia Deltones on Railway Road, Siparia. The “pan crawl” will move through NLCB Fonclaire in San Fernando, Heritage Petroleum Skiffle on Coffee Street, and T&TEC Tropical Angel Harps in Chaguanas.
The pan sides will compete in the National Panorama Medium and Large bands semi-finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday (February 16).
The finals will take place on Carnival Saturday (March 1).