Trinidad and Tobago Carnival

Caribbean · music and dance · celebration · culture

Explosion of color. People wear incredibly bright and creative costumes, and there are competitions to find the most amazing ones. The streets fill with dancers showing off their designs.

Music takes over. Long ago, calypso music was the heart of Carnival, created by people of African heritage in Trinidad. Today, the faster, energetic Soca music is what gets everyone dancing and celebrating.

Steel drums shine. Steelpan is a special percussion instrument made from oil drums, and players compete to show off their skills during Carnival. The steel drum sound is unique to this region of the world.

Parties before parade. Leading up to the main event, there are huge fetes (parties) called band launches where people celebrate with food, music, and dancing. Then comes the big street parade on Monday and Tuesday.

Acrobatic traditions. Limbo competitions and stick-fighting are old Carnival traditions where people show their skill and strength. These activities have been part of the celebration for hundreds of years.