40+ Carnivals in the Caribbean: A Celebration of History and Culture | Caribbean & Co. (2024)

• Affiliate, , Things To Do

• Ursula Petula Barzey
• August 23, 2024

Carnivals in the Caribbean are a dazzling explosion of color, music, and culture, rooted in a rich tapestry of European, African, and Indigenous traditions. While many Caribbean Carnivals originated as pre-Lenten festivities introduced by European colonizers, others have roots in harvest, Emancipation, or Christmas celebrations. Each island and country in the Caribbean has cultivated its own unique carnival culture, shaped by local customs and historical events, making each celebration distinct and deeply meaningful.

Today, these vibrant festivals are embraced not only by locals and the diaspora but also by a growing number of tourists who flock to the islands to experience the exuberance and cultural richness firsthand. From Trinidad and Tobago’s world-famous celebration to the colorful parades of Barbados’ Crop Over, carnivals in the Caribbean offer a feast for the senses and a window into the heart of island culture.

Traditional float at Antigua Carnival.

Origins and Evolution of Carnivals in the Caribbean

The word “carnival” comes from the Latin “carnem levare” or “carne vale,” meaning “to remove meat” or “farewell to meat,” referring to the practice of abstaining from meat during Lent. In Europe, pre-Lent festivities evolved beyond just giving up meat to include elaborate masquerade balls, street parades, and other major events.

This festive tradition was initially introduced to the Caribbean by European colonizers, particularly the French and Spanish, who celebrated pre-Lent festivities as a final indulgence before the fasting period.

The enslaved Africans in the Caribbean were largely excluded from the European pre-Lenten celebrations. In response, they created parallel festivities that served multiple purposes:

• They incorporated elements of their African cultural heritage and practices, allowing them to maintain connections to their roots and traditions.
• These celebrations often mimicked and mocked the European colonizers’ customs and behaviors, serving as a form of subtle rebellion and social commentary.
• The festivities became a way to express freedom and defiance in the face of oppression, particularly after emancipation.
• They combined their masquerade traditions with the timing and some elements of the European carnivals, creating a unique syncretic celebration.
• These African-influenced celebrations included rituals, music, dance, and masquerades that were often impenetrable to the colonizers, allowing for a sense of cultural autonomy and resistance.
• Traditions like Canboulay (from “cannes brulées” or burning canes) in Trinidad, which was related to sugarcane harvesting, became incorporated into the carnival celebrations as symbols of freedom and cultural identity.

Over time, these parallel festivities evolved into the vibrant and unique Caribbean carnivals we know today, which celebrate the resilience, creativity, and cultural heritage of Caribbean people while still maintaining elements of rebellion and cultural pride.

Young stilt walkers at Antigua Carnival 2019.

Here’s a look at the diverse origins and timings of these vibrant celebrations:

• Pre-Lenten Carnivals: Islands like Trinidad, Dominica, and Haiti still celebrate carnival just before Lent, typically in February or March.
• Emancipation Celebrations: Some Caribbean carnivals evolved to commemorate the abolition of slavery, often held in the summer months to coincide with key emancipation dates, such as July 1, 1863, in the Dutch Caribbean, July 3, 1848, in the U.S. Virgin Islands and August 1, 1834, in the British Caribbean. For example, Antigua Carnival is celebrated towards the end of July and early August.
• Harvest Festivals: Some Caribbean carnivals have their roots in celebrating successful harvests, mainly sugar cane, which was a crucial crop during the colonial era. These festivals typically occur after the harvest season and have evolved into vibrant carnival celebrations. For example, Barbados’ Crop Over originated as a harvest festival and is celebrated in July and August. Another instance is Saint Barths Carnival, which also began as a party to celebrate the completion of the sugar cane harvest.
• Christmas and New Year Celebrations: Some islands, like Montserrat, have unique carnival celebrations during the Christmas and New Year period. Historically, this was a time when enslaved Africans were granted a brief respite from their forced labor in the fields. These few days of relative freedom became an opportunity for cultural expression and celebration, laying the foundation for the carnival traditions we see today. Montserrat’s carnival, previously known as “Montserrat Festival,” runs from mid-December to early January, combining Christmas festivities with carnival traditions that have evolved from these historical roots.
• Political / Independence Day Celebrations: A few Caribbean islands align their carnival celebrations with significant political milestones or independence days, blending national pride with vibrant traditions. For example, the Dominican Republic’s Carnaval Dominicano is celebrated throughout February, culminating on February 27th, which marks the country’s Independence from Haiti in 1844.
• Tourism Considerations: Some Caribbean islands have moved their carnival dates to attract more tourists during off-peak seasons and to avoid competing with other major carnivals. This strategic shift helps boost tourism and ensures that visitors can experience multiple carnivals throughout the year. For example, the Saint Lucia Carnival, which was initially held before Lent, is now celebrated in July as part of the Soleil Summer Festival. This move was made to enhance the island’s appeal to tourists and has successfully increased attendance and participation.

2024 National Queen of the Bands: Tribe of Twel “Sisters in the Stream Rituals Of Faith & Fellowship” Saint Lucia Carnival 2024_Traditional Masquerade Costume

List of 40+ Carnivals in the Caribbean

Below is a list of carnivals in the Caribbean. For each carnival, I’ve provided the following information where available:

• Year First Held: This refers to the date when the carnival was first officially organized in the modern era. It’s important to note that while these dates mark the beginning of professionally organized celebrations, the roots of these carnivals often stretch back much further, sometimes to the era of slavery.
• Month Typically Held: This indicates the usual time of year when the carnival takes place. Keep in mind that some carnival dates may vary annually.
• Location: This specifies the main area or city where the carnival is celebrated.
• Website: Where available, I’ve included the official website for the carnival as this provides more details and up-to-date information.
• Accommodation: To understand and appreciate carnival culture, one must experience it—not just on one island, but on several. Therefore, I’ve linked to recommended hotels for each destination.

It’s crucial to understand that while these modern dates represent the formalization of these events, the true origins of Caribbean carnivals are much older. During colonial times, European settlers had their own pre-Lenten festivities, while enslaved Africans maintained their cultural traditions through informal celebrations. These parallel practices eventually merged and evolved into the vibrant carnivals we see today.

Anguilla Summer Festival

• Year First Held: 1940
• Month Typically Held: Around the first Monday in August
• Website | Location: The Valley, Anguilla
• Where to Stay: Anguilla Accommodations

Antigua Carnival

• Year First Held: 1957
• Month Typically Held: Last weekend in July until the first Tuesday in August
• Website | Location: St John’s, Antigua
• Where to Stay: Antigua Accommodations

Kente Africa masquerader with Insane Mas Band at Antigua Carnival 2019.

Barbuda Caribana Festival

• Year First Held: 1977
• Month Typically Held: May / June
• Website | Location: Codrington, Barbuda
• Where to Stay: Barbuda Accommodations

Aruba Carnival

• Year First Held: 1954
• Month Typically Held: January / February
• Website | Location: Oranjestad, Aruba
• Where to Stay: Aruba Accommodations

Barbados Crop Over

• Year First Held: 1970
• Month Typically Held: The first weekend in August
• Website | Location: Bridgetown, Barbados
• Where to Stay: Barbados Accommodations

Bahamas Carnival

• Year First Held: ???
• Month Typically Held: April / early May
• Website | Location: Nassau, Bahamas
• Where to Stay: Bahamas Accommodations

Bahamas Junkanoo Festival

• Year First Held: 1700s
• Month Typically Held: Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) and New Year’s Morning
• Website | Location: Bay Street in Nassau and on many of the Out Islands.
• Where to Stay: Bahamas Accommodations

Belize Carnival

• Year First Held: 1975
• Month Typically Held: September
• Website | Location: Belize City, Belize
• Where to Stay: Belize Accommodations

Bermuda Carnival

• Year First Held: 2015
• Month Typically Held: The third weekend in June
• Website | Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
• Where to Stay: Bermuda Accommodations

Bonaire Carnival aka Bonaire Karnaval

• Year First Held: 1965
• Month Typically Held: End of January to February
• Website | Location: Kralendijk, Bonaire
• Where to Stay: Bonaire Accommodations

BVI — Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival

• Year First Held: 1956
• Month Typically Held: End of July to Early August
• Website | Location: Tortola, British Virgin Islands
• Where to Stay: BVI Accommodations

BVI — Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Celebrations

• Year First Held: 1967
• Month Typically Held: Late March/early April
• Website | Location: Spanish Town, British Virgin Islands
• Where to Stay: BVI Accommodations

Cayman Carnival Batabano

• Year First Held: 1983
• Month Typically Held: The first week of May
• Website | Location: George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
• Where to Stay: Cayman Islands Accommodations

CayMAS Carnival

• Year First Held: 2016
• Month Typically Held: Late June/early July
• Website | Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
• Where to Stay: Cayman Islands Accommodations

Carnival of Santiago de Cuba

• Year First Held: Early 16th-Century
• Month Typically Held: Last week of July, on Revolution Day
• Location: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
  Where to Stay: Cuba Accommodations

Cuba — Havana Carnival

• Year First Held: 1901
• Month Typically Held: Several weekends during July and August
• Location: Havana, Cuba
• Where to Stay: Cuba Accommodations

Curaçao Carnival

• Year First Held: 1901
• Month Typically Held: Late February to Early March
• Website | Location: Willemstad, Curacao
  Where to Stay: Curaçao Accommodations

Mas Domnik aka Dominica Carnival

• Year First Held: 2005
• Month Typically Held: Pre-Lenten, so February / March
• Website | Location: Roseau, Dominica
• Where to Stay: Dominica Accommodations

Dominican Carnival

• Year First Held: 1578
• Month Typically Held: Last Sunday in February
• Website | Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Where to Stay: Dominican Republic Accommodations

French Guiana Carnival aka Cayenne Carnival

• Year First Held: 1830s
• When Typically Held: Between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, ending on Mardi Gras
• Location: Cayenne, French Guiana
• Where to Stay: French Guiana Accommodations

Grenada — Carriacou Carnival

• Year First Held: 1987
• Month Typically Held: February / March
• Website | Location: Hillsborough, Carriacou
• Where to Stay: Grenada Accommodations

Grenada — Spicemas

• Year First Held: 1877
• Month Typically Held: mid-August
• Website | Location: St George’s, Grenada
• Where to Stay: Grenada Accommodations

Guadeloupe Carnaval

• Year First Held: 1980
• Month Typically Held: January / February
• Website | Location: Basse Terre, Guadeloupe
  Where to Stay: Guadeloupe Accommodations

Guyana – Mashramani Carnival aka Guyanese Republic Day

• Year First Held: 1970
• Month Typically Held: 23 February
• Website | Location: Georgetown, Guyana
• Where to Stay: Guyana Accommodations

Haiti Carnaval aka Haiti Kanaval

• Year First Held: Early 19th-Century
• Month Typically Held: February
• Website | Location: Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
• Where to Stay: Haiti Accommodations

Jamaica Carnival aka Jamaica Bacchanal

• First Held: 1990
• Month Typically Held: April
• Website | Location: Kingston, Jamaica
• Where to Stay: Jamaica Accommodations

Martinique Carnival

• Year First Held: Mid-18th-Century
• Month Typically Held: February
• Website | Location: Fort-de-France, Martinique
• Where to Stay: Martinique Accommodations

Montserrat Carnival formerly Montserrat Festival

• Year First Held: 1962
• Month Typically Held: Mid-December to early January, New Year’s Day
• Website | Location: Little Bay, Montserrat
• Where to Stay: Montserrat Accommodations

Puerto Rico Ponce Carnival aka Carnaval Ponceño

• Year First Held: 1858
• Month Typically Held: February
• Website | Location: Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Where to Stay: Puerto Rico Accommodations

Saba Summer Festival aka Saba Carnival

• Year First Held: 1976
• Month Typically Held: Last week in July
• Website | Location: The Bottom, Saba
  Where to Stay: Saba Accommodations

Saint-Barthélemy Carnival aka St Barths Carnival

• Year First Held: 19th Century
• Month Typically Held: February
• Website | Location: Gustavia, Saint-Barthélemy
• Where to Stay: St Barths Accommodations

Saint Lucia Carnival

• Year First Held: 1947
• Month Typically Held: July
• Website | Location: Castries, Saint Lucia
• Where to Stay: Saint Lucia Accommodations

Saint Kitts and Nevis National Carnival aka Sugar Mas

• Year First Held: 1957
• Month Typically Held: December/January
• Website | Location: Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Where to Stay: Saint Kitts Accommodations

Nevis Culturama Festival

• Year First Held: 1974
• Month Typically Held: Late July/early August
• Website | Location: Charlestown, Nevis
• Where to Stay: Nevis Accommodations

Saint Martin Carnival aka Carnaval de Saint-Martin

• Year First Held: 1950s
• Month Typically Held: February and until the beginning of March
• Website | Location: Marigo, Saint Martin
• Where to Stay: Saint Martin Accommodations

Saint Vincent Carnival aka Vincy Mas

• Year First Held: Late 19th Century
• Month Typically Held: late June/early July
• Website | Location: Kingstown, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines
• Where to Stay: Saint Vincent Accommodations

Saint Eustatius Carnival aka Statia Carnival

• Year First Held: 1964
• Month Typically Held: Late July/early August
• Website | Location: Oranjestad, Saint Eustatius (Statia)
• Where to Stay: Saint Eustatius Accommodations

Sint Maarten Carnival

• Year First Held: 1960s
• Month Typically Held: Mid-April until the beginning of May
• Website | Location: Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
• Where to Stay: Sint Maarten Accommodations

Trinidad Carnival

• Year First Held: Late 18th Century
• Month Typically Held: February
• Website | Location: Port of Spain, Trinidad
• Where to Stay: Trinidad Accommodations

Tobago Carnival

• Year First Held: 2023 after a significant hiatus
• Month Typically Held: October
• Website | Location: Scarborough, Tobago
• Where to Stay: Tobago Accommodations

Turks and Caicos Islands

• Year First Held: 1981
• Month Typically Held: January
• Website | Location: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
• Where to Stay: Turks & Caicos Accommodations

USVI — St. Croix Carnival aka St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival

• Year First Held: 1952
• Month Typically Held: Late December/early January
• Website | Location: Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands
• Where to Stay: St Croix Accommodations

USVI — St. John Festival

• Year First Held: 1945
• Month Typically Held: Late June to early July
• Website | Location: St John, United States Virgin Islands
• Where to Stay: St. John Accommodations

USVI — Virgin Islands Carnival

• Year First Held: 1912
• When Typically Held: Late April through early May
• Website | Location: Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
• Where to Stay: Saint Thomas Accommodations

Now that you are aware of all the carnivals in the Caribbean, which ones will you be attending in the near future?

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