THE mining town of Linden is expected to come alive and be transformed into a virtual party arena this weekend, with an array of iridescent colours dunned by revellers, spectators and floats, and feting to Soca music throughout the streets of Mackenzie and Wismar.

Known as the birth place of Mashramani, Lindeners will be celebrating this national cultural event on Sunday.
The procession is expected to leave the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office, Republic Avenue, Mackenzie and will culminate at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground.
Spectators can catch a glimpse of the very creative and colourful floats on the Independence Avenue, the Washerpond Road and the Winifred Gaskin Highway.

Participating in this year’s activity is the Ministry of Social Protection with its 100-strong contingent, the RDC, Region 10, the Linden Technical Institute (LTI), the Community Development Council (CDC) floats and the Region 10 Department of Education. Accompanying the revellers and o stir up the party spirit of Lindeners, will be two party trucks as well.

Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Maylene Stephens, who has responsibility for commemoration, stressed that this year Mashramani will be bigger and better, with more participants and better organised floats.
She also alluded to the J’ouvert celebration on Saturday, which is also expected to be a hit this weekend. The event will take place on the Linden/Georgetown bus park and will be hosted by World Access Entertainment. Performances are expected by the reigning Soca monarch king, Brandon Harding, a born and bred Lindener, and other soca monarch finalists.

The celebration of Mashramani has its origin in the township of Linden and, was organised by the Jaycees. It was deemed an Independent Carnival since 1966 and in 1970, it was held on February 23rd, in Mackenzie.

The festival was an enormous success, attracting people drawn from every nook and cranny.