By Jermaine Cruickshank
As Tobago Carnival draws near, the flights, villas, hotels, suites and even granny’s extra room are all booked out. So now aunty’s living room couch looks like a plan because everywhere you call at this point, you are met with the same BOOKED OUT. So, if that is any indication, then it’s safe to say that Tobago Carnival will be yet another bumper one this year. Most of us who arguably are late or last-minute travelers may not get to Tobago, as we are hoping for those extra flights from Caribbean Airlines. If you do, you may have to also get a tent and sleep on the sand at Pigeon Point.
All is not lost, because when God can’t come, he usually sends an angel, and in this case, it’s Fog Angels. They are already known for hosting and having the best events list, from J’Ouvert to Pretty Mas. And now they have added another event to entice you to book that tent and spot on Pigeon Point Beach, with the addition of another special event, “The Gala”, the first Ultra-Premium event to touch the island.
This event was not by any means a last-minute one. When asked, bandleader Tele Cruz said, “The event was mentally planned for the 2025 Carnival, but we didn’t have the time to do it, so we decided to go full force for 2026.” The partnership team are Mr Pierre Goubault, bandleader for top-tier Jamaican band XODUS Carnival; Tele Cruz, CEO for FOG ANGELS and a visionary where Tobago Carnival is concerned; 11-time Trinidad and Tobago King of Carnival and also a long-standing section leader with Fog Angels, Eustace Mas Designs; and Kwesi Hopkinson from major event planning organization SCORCH.
Together, they are set to take over not just Saturday the 31st and the Carnival, but the ambience and gardens of the luxurious Coco Reef Hotel, which gives that true element of island vibes meets luxury with splendor and a taste of joie de vivre — the only way Tele Cruz, his Fog Angels and partnerships do it. “That’s just how they Roll.”
We are also reliably informed by Cruz that, “We saw a need for a ‘dress-up’ event, as it was an element missing in the Tobago calendar of events.” So, ladies and gents, let’s not disappoint. Choose your best pink or white outfit, or even mix and match to suit, and step out in style. The dress code for this year is PINK & WHITE, and if the response is anything to go by, Tobago is more than ready to get dressed up.
Cruz said the team anticipated a good response, but “to our amazement it has been truly overwhelming,” with tickets at all tiers now sold out. And honestly, that’s the reason the event is doing so well. There was clearly a need for something different on the Tobago Carnival calendar — an event where patrons can step away from the traditional Carnival wear for a moment, dress up, look good and enjoy the island in a more luxurious setting.
The Gala will run from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., giving patrons several hours to enjoy the luxurious surroundings, the atmosphere, the company and, of course, the energy that comes when Tobago Carnival is in full swing. Interestingly, the organisers’ statistics also tell them that it is mainly an international audience they are expecting, another indication of the growing appeal of Tobago Carnival and the island as a destination for Carnival lovers looking for something beyond the traditional road experience.
Tobago has always had the natural beauty, the hospitality and the Carnival spirit. Now, events like The Gala are adding another layer to that experience, creating spaces where visitors can enjoy the island, dress up, socialise and celebrate in style before heading out to the road. And with the overwhelming response and every ticket tier already sold out, The Gala appears to have found its audience before even officially making its debut.
For Fog Angels and its partners, this is clearly more than just another event to fill a Carnival weekend. If the response is anything to go by, The Gala may already be on its way to becoming one of those events people will be talking about long after the last song plays. And if the organisers get their way, it won’t be a one-time affair.
Cruz is confident that The Gala will definitely be a staple moving forward on the table of Tobago Carnival events. So, ladies and gents, get your pink, get your white, get your glam and, if you were lucky enough to secure a ticket, get ready.
Let’s meet up on Saturday the 31st in Tobago — before the road.
