GenXS Carnival has confirmed that Emancipation Park will serve as the official hospitality and entertainment hub for its 2025 Carnival Sunday experience.

The location will facilitate breakfast, lunch, and dinner stops throughout the day, as well as host the band’s closing concert featuring Kes the Band.

Emancipation Park, located in New Kingston, provides a larger footprint to accommodate all masquerader services in one central location. The park will feature designated barricaded areas for masqueraders, with structured re-entry points for lunch and dinner stops. It will remain open to the public, allowing spectators to view key moments of the road march from outside the designated band areas.

“All masqueraders and spectators must observe the official rules of the park,” said Jeremy Cole, production manager for GenXS. “We are coordinating closely with park authorities to ensure that the space is used respectfully and in line with national guidelines. We are focused on providing a seamless transition between each phase of the day’s activities.”

GenXS will also introduce ‘Comfort Park’ inside the venue, a branded recovery and rest area focused on masquerader wellness. Sponsored by Sparkling Cran Wata, the space will offer hydration stations, an AC spa, massage stations, and shaded areas designed for cooldown and recharging during the day.

“It draws inspiration from Tribe’s Comfort Park in the Savannah during Trinidad Carnival,” said Mala Morrison, band leader and director of GenXS. “We wanted to create an oasis within the road experience — a place where masqueraders can truly pause, refresh, and feel cared for before hitting the road again.”

Kes live in concert

The day will culminate in a free concert performance by Kes the Band under the Clamshell stage inside Emancipation Park. The concert is scheduled to begin after the evening road march and will close out the GenXS Carnival Roadmarch experience.

“Smirnoff is proud to present Kes and The Band Live in Kingston, a first-of-its-kind moment that brings one of the Caribbean’s leading soca acts to the capital,” said Nadine Hylton, Brand Manager for Smirnoff. “This partnership with GenXS reflects our commitment to supporting innovation and elevating entertainment across the region. GenXS continues to raise the bar year after year, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.”

Kes, known for delivering high-energy performances and hit tracks such as ‘Cocoa Tea‘, ‘Liki Tiki‘, and ‘Jolene‘, has built a catalogue that has become synonymous with Carnival season. Their presence in Kingston underscores the scale and ambition of the GenXS finale.

The full-day movement includes:

• Breakfast at Emancipation Park
• Morning road procession through Kingston
• Mid-day return for lunch and rest
• Evening road showcase
• Final return for dinner and Kes concert