Ask anyone from the Caribbean and they’ll all tell you the same thing – carnival in Trinidad is the greatest the region has to offer. This year’s carnival will be held February 15 to February 22, with the main carnival event days happening on Monday, February 20 and Tuesday, February 21.
The History
Carnival was brought to Trinidad by the French in the 1700s, when Christians would partake in revelry in the days leading up to lent. After the abolition of slavery in the 1830s, the then freed slaves would flock the streets in “Canboulay.” They would dance, sing, and dress in elaborate costumes skewering the planters.
The Schedule
These traditions live on in today’s Trinidadian carnival. The season starts on Boxing Day and ends the Tuesday before Lent. Nowadays, revelers take the streets, dancing from sunrise to sunset, drinking, eating, stick-fighting, and limbo-ing – celebrating life. It’s the most inclusive carnival in the world; the Trinidadian carnival caters to all ages and all budgets.
The main carnival days in Trinidad are Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. If you plan on really making the most of the experience, you might need to physically train for the event. It’s roughly 40 hours of party squeezed into those two days. That’s a lot of dancing and drinking.
Boost Your System
Also, be sure to keep up to date with your shots; and at the very least get a flu shot. Trinidad carnival brings together lots of bodies, lots of sweat, and very little sleep. It will also help to stock up on multivitamins and vitamin C to keep your immune system ticking.
Traveling to Trinidad
Traveling to Trinidad is straightforward depending on where in the world you’re traveling from. If you’re in Canada or the US, there are direct flight options from many of the major cities. Travelers from Europe should prepare to take a connecting flight path.
Accommodation
Accommodation is dicey and where planning is most important. Trinidadian carnival is, for many, the biggest in the world, doubly so if you’re a soca die hard. Thousands upon thousands of partiers descend onto the Queen’s Park Savannah as a rite of passage. Meaning, most of the surrounding hotels have been booked out months in advance.
The Fetes
Once you’re on the island and your accommodations are sorted, it’s smooth sailing. There are many fetes throughout the season. Cooler fetes are cheaper, bring your own drinks affairs, but no less enjoyable. Jouvert will have you unrecognizable by the end of the night as paint, mud, and sometimes even chocolate syrup is sprayed on partiers.
If you want the full carnival experience, you have to “play mas.” Here, “mas” means masquerade, as in wearing a costume and dancing. These extravagant costumes made from beads, feathers, rhinestones, etc., can be difficult to procure, so it’s advised for novices or anyone seeking a seamless experience to register with a band. All-inclusive bands take the risk out of the experience, supplying partiers with costumes, food, drinks, security, music, and even first aid if necessary.
From here general etiquette is key. Drink responsibly. Wear comfortable sneakers. Wear clothes you’re okay with never seeing again if you’re going to a jouvert. Remember that everyone is there to have fun, dance, and make memories.
