If you're in Trinidad during Carnival season it can be overwhelming to know which events are happening when! To help out we've created this guide based on our experience as Aussie liveaboard yacht cruisers who were hauled out in Trinidad throughout the entire Carnival season.
WHEN IS CARNIVAL?
In Trinidad & Tobago, Carnival is celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. As a result the dates change each year with the event falling in either February or March.
2025 - March 3rd & 4th
2026 - February 16th & 17th
2027 - February 8th & 9th
2028 - February 28th & 29th
2029 - February 12th & 13th
2030 - March 4th & 5th
EVENTS LEADING UP TO TRINIDAD'S CARNIVAL
In the months preceding Carnival there are many events and cultural celebrations that take place, including fetes, steel panband competitions and stick fighting championships.
FETES
In the lead up to Carnival event promotors and community groups hold parties called fetes. Fetes usually involve drinking, dancing and live performances by Soca artists. They can be held during the day or at night, with there being a few different types of fete to choose from.
All-Inclusive Fetes: These are generally a more high-end and expensive event. Unlimited food and drinks are included in the ticket price and there are popular Soca artists performing live.
Semi-Inclusive Fetes: These fetes will provide some of what you need but may ask you to bring-your-own (BYO) spirits or mixers. They have live Soca performances and often have a slightly more relaxed dress code than the All-Inclusive events.
Cooler Fetes: At these fetes you can BYO food and drinks in a cooler or buy them at the event for an additional price. Live performances are part of ticket price and the dress code varies depending on the organiser.
Boat Cruiser Fetes: A common one around the Chaguaramas area, boat fetes are like cooler fetes but out on the sea. Many people wear their beachwear and the music is usually from a sound track.
There are also some specialty fetes like fetes designed to mimic the J'ouvert experience or wet fetes where you're going to get drenched and stay drenched.
STEELPAN BAND COMPETITIONS
Steelpan music was born in Trinidad & Tobago and it is a proud part of their culture. Each year in the lead up to Carnival there is a national competition to find the best bands in the country.
The Panorama Steelband Competition began in 1963 and is the most prestigious competition in the country. There are a few different divisions, each of which get their own dedicated finals event.
Junior
Single Pans
Small Conventional
Large Conventional
The most popular event is the National Large Convention Bands Finals which is always held on the Saturday night before Carnival Monday. Ticket purchasing information can be found on the Pan Trinbago website. Pricing varies from around $300 TTD to $850 TTD depending on which seating tier you choose.
This video is of Renegades who tied for first place based on this performance of DNA by Mical Teja.
NATIONAL STICK FIGHTING COMPETITION
In Trinidad & Tobago there are two traditional styles of stick fighting.
Kalinda: Based on African traditions
Gatka: Style developed in Southern Asia
A one on one battle, the main objective of Kalinda is to "cut" your opponent. It is not as violent as it may initially sound and there are set rules on the shape and size of the stick. During the figh competitors call out chants called "lav-ways" which are small chants that actually influenced the development of calypso music.
Before Carnival, the National Stick Fighting Competition takes place in Trinidad, with preliminaries, semi finals and then the finals.
CALYPSO MONARCH
Calypso is a popular music genre in Trinidad & Tobago and each year during Carnival season there is a music competition to crown the best calypso singers. Named the Calypso Monarch, it is one of the most prestigious events for this style of music and provides a platform for artists to share their talents. The finals are held in the days before Carnival Monday and there's also a junior version of the competition as well.
This is an example of one of the winning performances.
JUNIOR PARADE OF THE BANDS
On the Saturday before Carnival Monday the kids get in on the action with their very own mas parade, the National Junior Parade of the Bands. Also known as the Kiddies Carnival, it takes place in Port of Spain starting at Queen's Park Savannah. The kids costumes are just as elaborate as the adults and they parade through the streets along with friends from their school or community groups.
You can stand along the parade route and watch for free, or pay to be in the stands at the stadium.
CARNIVAL MONDAY & TUESDAY
After all the lead up and hype Carnival takes place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, starting with J'ouvert.
J'OUVERT
Believed to have originated in Trinidad, J'ouvert celebrations start at around 4am on Carnival Monday. Participants, referred to as Jab Jabs, parade through the streets to the sounds of soca, calypso and steelpan music. People usually stay with the band they've joined for the occasion, smearing themselves in paint, mud and even oil. This continues until mid-morning when people start to head home to recover before Pretty Mas the next day.
To take part in J'ouvert people generally join bands that provide an all-inclusive experience with matching outfits, a music truck, unlimited drinks, security, medical staff and a toilet truck. These are just some of the J'ouvert bands that take part in the parade around Port of Spain.
If you want to join in but would rather not parade there are also a few J'ouvert fetes held at places like O2 Park.
Here's an on the ground walk through of J'ouvert morning in Port of Spain.
CARNIVAL TUESDAY
If you want to see the elaborate costumes Carnival is famous for, then the Pretty Mas parade on Carnival Tuesday is where you need to be.
The parade route is usually shared online by the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, but for the best viewing you probably want to go to the stadium at Queen's Park Savannah or stand along the near near where they exit the stadium. We went along the parade route near Ariapita Avenue and found there could be very long gaps between groups so having a condensed experience would have been better. We also went to the Socadrome Stadium which was the only place we saw some of the bigger bands.
To get into Port of Spain to watch the parade you can catch a maxi taxi into the city or drive. We chose to drive and park at Movietown for 100 TTD; this is on the more expensive end of the parking fees. There was very little traffic on the outer roads so it was quick and easy to get in and out of town. Some of the other people staying in the boat yards left at 6.30am but I feel this is unnecessarily early, I would get there anytime from 9am onwards.
If you want to do more than just watch you could join a Mas Band and participate in the parade. There are a huge number of Mas Bands around with the prices and competitiveness to join varying depending on how popular it is and what's included. Here are some of the ones you can choose from.
It's best to choose and join a group well in advance and be prepared for it to cost you upward of $800 USD.
The Carnival Parade finishes around sunset and at night Port of Spain is usually quiet as the police make a concerted effort to clear the crowds from the streets. If you want to experience some post Carnival nightlife we've heard rumours that San Fernando might be a better option.
CARNIVAL TIPS
Wear plenty of sunscreen and take a hat as there's very little shade in Port of Spain
During Carnival Tuesday most of the bars along Ariapita Avenue charge a cover fee that provides access for the day
On Carnival Tuesday water, soft drink, alcohol and snacks are easy to buy from street vendors
OFFICIAL SOURCES
For more information about Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago or to buy tickets for the events you can visit these sites.
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