DYNASTY PRODUCTIONS CARNIVAL PARADE

Trinidadian carnival parade group
Boston, Massachusetts

One of the hallmarks of Carnival is the mas band, a group of revelers bedecked in elaborate, hand-made costumes expressing a spectacular theme. Dynasty Productions—formerly known as Mas Women and Men—is one of Boston’s oldest Carnival groups. Founded by Cynthia Coker and her husband Stephen, Dynasty has played a key role in presenting the colorful handmade Trinidadian Carnival traditions to Boston for over 30 years.

Carnival is a global phenomenon originally linked to the pre-Lenten period in the annual Catholic religious cycle. Carnival traditions vary from country to country, but no matter the location, the aim is celebration—and often a chance to temporarily upend oppressive social conditions—in the liminal time before Lent. Historically, Carnival in the Caribbean was an opportunity for Afro-Caribbean people to express their resistance to colonialism; now it serves as a major vehicle for expressing both pan-Caribbean and nation-specific pride. Street parades feature costumed revelers “playing mas” (masquerading) in huge troupes whose coordinating costumes are carefully designed to convey a new theme each year. 

In North American cities with substantial West Indian populations, Carnival celebrations have been moved from chilly Fat Tuesday to the summer months. Annual Boston-area Caribbean Carnivals have been taking place for over five decades, often in August or September. They have become a community mainstay, with their vibrant celebrations of West Indian culture, featuring mas bands in colorful handmade costumes.

Dynasty Productions stays busy during Carnival season, performing in parades throughout the East Coast, with numerous awards and features in the Boston Herald, Boston Globe, and Bay State Banner. The Cokers both fell in love with Carnival in their native Trinidad and have carried the tradition on since moving to Boston in the early 1970s. Dynasty Productions includes immigrants from islands across the West Indies and native Bostonians of Caribbean descent. Their group encompasses all ages, from small children to community elders, who are all involved in some aspect of producing the group’s magnificently decorated costumes or participating in mas parades. This year, Dynasty Productions will lead the street parade to kick off the Lowell Folk Festival on Friday night.

Artist website and social media:

bostoncarnivalvillage.com/dynasty