The 2018 Richmond Folk Festival Virginia Folklife Area’s theme – Masquerade – featured various costuming and adornment traditions in Virginia, including Carnival costumes of the mid-Atlantic’s Caribbean community. Carnival costume maker Kenley “Shortmus” John is from the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean Sea. After moving to Baltimore, he founded Shortmus Productions, a performing arts group that constructs costumes each year for Caribbean-style carnival celebrations across the country, including the annual CaribeFest in Virginia Beach.