Carnival Calabar which is due in a few days (Thursday) will take on an international dimension with the reigning Sao Paulo Carnival champions, the Vai Vai Band, billed to take part. The Brazilian band, made up of 25 ladies is set to add more colour to the carnival with their eye-popping costumes.

Their performance would be one of the highlights of a festival already in full swing. Today, there will be a novelty football match and the Calabar Carnival Queen pageant. A carol night is set for tomorrow (Christmas Eve) while Christmas Day will see live bands performing at various venues in the city, including Tinapa, Marina resort and the Cultural Centre.

Christmas Day will also witness the first performance of the Vai Vai Band as they perform at the Carnival Kings and Queens competition. Boxing Day will be equally as exciting with a cultural carnival, the Children's Carnival and musical performances later in the evening by Tuface, MI and Ice Prince.

All these lead up to the Carnival proper on Thursday as the Vai Vai band comes back again for a special performance as the five carnival bands compete to emerge winner of the Carnival Calabar 2012.