Carnival Roundtable
Arts & Roundtable maria Photographer & Cultural Activist
Carnival is so multi-faceted — it is experienced in so many ways, and means such different things to different people. Many limit their experience to just the party element, but there’s so much more to Carnival. For me, it is about an indescribable energy, a spirit that’s somehow in our DNA. The heart and soul of Carnival come to their fullest expression in the street on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Taking over the street is an essential part of the experience. You get to release so much through the music, through the rituals. If you’re willing to really let go, it’s truly cathartic.
More foodie favou RoundtableThe week before Carnival:
The perfect itinerary
chad lue loy
There is so much to experience in such a short amount of time. The intensity ramps up two weeks before Carnival with Panorama semis. The atmosphere on what we call the drag or the track, where the bands practise and play their final warm up before they go on stage, is such a wonderful way to get close to the pans and the players. It’s special. The Wednesday after pan semis, head to the St James Amphitheatre for the Traditional Mas competition. It’s free and it’s a great event for children. I’d recommend going to the stickfighting preliminaries, which take place in locations like Moruga.
Stickfighting
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The Old Yard: UWI Creative Arts, St Augustine (two Sundays before Carnival) Traditional Mas Competition: Woodbrook (Wednesday) Stickfighting Finals Kambule Riots re-enactment (or Canboulay): Piccadilly Greens (Carnival Friday) Dragon Festival: Port of Spain (Carnival Friday) Junior Carnival Parade: Port of Spain (Carnival Saturday) Blue Devil Competition: Paramin (Carnival Monday).