By Dawn Wilson
Since Carnival is in full swing, we decided to mention the things that are commonly found at Carnival festivals in the Caribbean and in North America.
J’Ouvert: This is the pre-carnival parade, which kicks off Carnival.
Music: The music that is commonly played during the festival is Dancehall, Zouk and Calypso.
Mas: This is the big parade that takes place on Carnival Tuesday!
Top Caribbean Carnivals in the Caribbean:
Cayman Islands (May)
Although the Cayman Islands Carnival festival isn’t as old as some of the others, it has become widely popular in a short amount of time. It began as a way to celebrate the history of its African residents, along with the mix of other cultures, who now call the Cayman Islands home.
St. Vincent & The Grenadines (June/July)
What you can expect to see when you attend here is steel pan performers, J’Ouvert (pre-carnival party parade), a beauty pageant, and more. The dancing is infectious, so make sure you get plenty of rest and bring comfortable shoes. There is a good chance that other partiers won’t let you leave, you’ll be dancing until the sun comes up.
Top Caribbean Carnivals in North America:
Toronto (July)
This is said to be the largest of its kind in North America. It attracts over a million visitors yearly. Like the festivals held in the Caribbean islands, you can still expect to see band performances, extravagant parades, interesting costumes, lots of dancing and music.
Miami (October)
If you are looking for something fun and exciting to do during Columbus Day weekend, stay in Miami for our annual Caribbean Carnival festival, One Carnival. It is a celebration of the Caribbean culture, art heritage and traditions. There are masquerade balls, parades and plenty of cuisine represented by the many islands of the Caribbean.