The VIP section of Celestialkarnevalen has acquired a near-mythical reputation over the course of the carnival days. With only a very select number of individuals having access to this secluded area, nestled in AF-borgen, one couldn’t help but wonder what a true VIP experience at the carnival looks like. Lundagård was invited to come see how the carni-VIP’s celebrated this special weekend.
Before our visit to the VIP area of the carnival grounds, the term VIP mainly gave rise to associations with exclusivity, grandeur, fancy suits, and champagne glasses. Our entrance into the area spoke to the imagination: oil paintings decked the walls, several people were clad in fancy dress, and the bar hosted several chilled bottles of champagne. We spoke to this VIP section chief, Morris Welinder, who has spent the past days in charge of all the goings-on past the section’s entry gates. In addition to the management tasks, he’s spent his days hauling drinks around the premises, grabbing food for workers, and making sure everyone is feeling good.
Addressing the mysterious identity of the VIP guests, Morris explains:
– Previous committees are granted access, but also friends of the carnival. We, in the VIP, don’t choose who gets access, that’s done by the carnival general. But we mainly have sponsors from the companies that helped make the carnival possible.
Photo: Erik Norinder.
The VIP tickets cannot be bought or otherwise acquired. Instead, they are given to those who have earned them by their contributions to the carnival. Many of them have been recurring volunteers and workers throughout six or more festival editions, and now get to enjoy the company of friends old and new while experiencing the festivities as honored guests. As most guests have been part of the carnival works themselves, Morris describes the energy as very positive:
– People are just happy to get in, drink something cold and refreshing and eat a nice meal.
Any Swedish celebrities that the international audience might not know about that have been in attendance?
– We have the biggest celebrity in Lund, Johan Wester, Morris said.
– He’s been a big part of the carnival for many years.
Coincidentally, it’s a double celebration today – amidst all the chaos and general merriment, the VIP-president is celebrating his birthday.
– I’m so happy. I get to be among my friends. Everyone sang happy birthday down in the hall, he remarks.
A little later, we interview carnival veterans Kalle Löfqvist and Per Welinder, who both worked on the 1994 Bergochdalkarneval. Both have returned for all following editions, and Per is proudly celebrating his carnival heritage as the father of VIP section chief Morris. They, too, emphasize the role of the VIP section as a meeting place for old and new carnival friends:
– That’s sort of the idea with the VIP, that you meet a lot of old friends from previous or newer carnivals.
– Both Per and I know probably half the people here. So it’s kind of a reunion every time, Kalle explains.
And although they have experienced their fair share of carnival editions, Kalle says:
– The great thing is that you get what you expect and it’s always, always great. It feels like it could’ve been twenty years ago, but there’s still something new and fresh about every carnival. And of course, a lot of it is satire around news, things happening in society, and things like that. Everything has some new, fresh take since it’s based on what happens around us.
While the VIP section serves nice drinks and good food, its value lies in the opportunity it provides for carnivalists, young and old, to connect and exchange ideas, experiences, and unforgettable memories. When prompted with the mysterious allure of the VIP section, section-chef Morris remarked:
– We have to get rid of the mystery because, you know, we are just a regular restaurant really. Sometimes we have bands, sometimes the guests begin to sing, and everyone sings along. It’s just like a big family, I guess you could say. Everyone’s just happy to be here.
