5 Top Carnival Celebrations In The Caribbean And Latin America
Carnival is held in more than 50 countries around the world. However, for the best celebrations, the Caribbean and Latin America truly stand out. It can be hard to decide which to attend, but celebrations cover everything from music, food and history, to parades and more. Here we list five of the top Carnivals to experience in the Caribbean and Latin America.
1. Carnival in Trinidad, Caribbean
Trinidad Carnival is known to be the “Greatest Show on Earth” and is one of the most popular in the Americas. Parades reveal beautiful, colorful costumes and parties where soca and steel-pan music plays.
However, the event is best known for its traditional storytelling with characters like the Midnight Robber, Dame Lorraine and the Blue Devil. These characters evolved when French planters dressed as the aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries while parading in groups at private homes.
Dates: Monday before Ash Wednesday (February 20, 2023)
2. Party in Salvador, Brazil
While most people know about the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, another major Carnival is held in Salvador. While they share similar traditions, they still remain true to the city’s culture. For this reason, Salvador’s Carnival rings with the sound of axé, a regional music genre inspired by African and Brazilian pop.
Join the street parties to experience the music, with the highlight being the trio elétrico, a truck carrying sound equipment with a band playing music. Moreover, while there is no official schedule, it is possible to buy tickets online. Meanwhile, some of Brazil’s biggest acts perform at the parties.
Dates: February 17-21, 2023
3. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Carnival in Rio is the largest of its kind in the world and attracts around two million people each year. The event is a major party, with Samba the main music played at signature events such as the Sambadromo, a parade area hosting many over-the-top floats and dance competitions. However, the city also hosts around 600 parties, dubbed as blocos, which are held throughout January and February. Meanwhile, Rio de Janeiro‘s largest and oldest street party, Cordão Da Bola Preta, has been happening since it started in 1918. Millions turn up for the event every year.
Dates: February 17-25, 2023
4. Party in Dominica, Caribbean
For those who love nature and outdoor adventure, the Carnival in Dominica (Mas Dominik) is ideal. The Caribbean island is known as the “nature isle”, and is home to 365 rivers. On top of this, the island has many sulfur pools, and beautiful mountains to explore before and after the event.
Meanwhile, the Carnival features the traditional and modern elements of mas. Here, large floats carry the Carnival Queen, along with many traditional characters. Meanwhile, people wearing “bikini mas” (gemmed bras and panties) line the streets. As for the music, the island’s traditional carnival music, “bouyon” and “Lapo kabwit” are heard in the streets. Meanwhile, Lapo kabwit is a drumming sound made on street instruments, including horns, conch shells, goatskin drums and cowbells.
Dates: January 14 to February 22, 2023
5. Oruro Carnival, Bolivia
The elaborate, 10-day Carnaval de Oruro in Bolivia is recognized as one of the world’s best festivals. Meanwhile, the event blends Indigenous and Catholic traditions, making for beautiful, colorful and elaborate parades. The carnival happens during Lent and the parade can last up to 20 hours. Moreover, the event is recognized by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”
One of the characters in the festival is El Tío (the uncle), an evil character that transforms into the devil. Meanwhile, other characters include the Earth Mother (Pachamama) and Archangel San Miguel. As for the highlight of this amazing festival, the “Diablada,” or Dance of the Devils is an intricate dance, that tells a story between angels and demons.
Dates: February 16-22, 2023
Experience the fascination of Carnival in 2023, taking in the color, music and traditions of the popular festival.