Get Ready for Miami Carnival 2025!
Sunshine, soca, and sweet bacchanal — it’s time to plan for one of the biggest Caribbean carnivals outside the islands!
If you haven’t been to Miami Carnival, just know: this is not a drill.
Antigua Carnival
When is the 2025 Antigua Carnival?
The Antigua Carnival will occur from July 25, 2025 to August 5, 2025.
Where is the Antigua Carnival celebrated?
The Antigua Carnival is celebrated on the Caribbean island of Antigua, part of the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
What is Antigua Carnival?
Antigua Carnival is an annual cultural festival held in Antigua, one of the islands in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. Celebrated typically from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August, the carnival commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the British Caribbean. The event is characterized by vibrant parades, elaborate costumes, live music, and an atmosphere of joyous celebration that attracts locals and tourists alike.
The carnival features a variety of events including the Parade of Bands, where participants don intricately designed costumes; the J’ouvert morning celebration, which involves dancing and revelry in the early hours; and Calypso and Soca competitions, showcasing the musical talents of local artists. The festivities also include steel band performances, beauty pageants, and food fairs, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and creativity of the Antiguan people. The Antigua Carnival not only serves as a major tourist attraction but also as a significant expression of national pride and cultural identity.
What to Expect at Antigua’s Carnival?
At Antigua’s Carnival, visitors can expect a vibrant celebration filled with colorful parades, lively music, and exuberant dancing, reflecting the island’s rich cultural heritage. The festivities include an array of events that showcase the creativity and spirit of the Antiguan people, making it an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
Grand Parade of Bands
This event features elaborately costumed mas bands parading through St. John's, accompanied by infectious soca and calypso rhythms, creating a dazzling spectacle of color and music.
J’ouvert Morning
Starting in the early hours, revelers take to the streets covered in paint, mud, or powder, dancing to live bands and DJs, celebrating freedom and unity in a spirited atmosphere.
Calypso and Soca Monarch Competitions
Talented artists compete for prestigious titles, delivering performances filled with social commentary and high-energy beats, showcasing the island's musical prowess.
Panorama Steel Band Competition
Steel orchestras perform intricate arrangements, vying for the top spot in this celebration of the steelpan, highlighting its significance in Caribbean music culture.
Carnival Pageants
Events like the Queen of Carnival and Mr. & Miss Teenage Pageant focus on beauty, talent, and cultural knowledge, adding elegance and tradition to the festivities.
T-Shirt Mas and Last Lap
Inclusive street parties where participants don themed T-shirts, dancing through the streets in a communal celebration, culminating in the 'Last Lap' that marks the carnival's conclusion.
Antigua Carnival Schedule
Opening of Carnival Parade
Date: Jul 25, 2024
Location: St. Johns
The opening of the Carnival Parade is a vibrant and energetic celebration that marks the start of the festivities. It features colorful costumes, lively music, and dancing, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and exuberance of Antigua. The parade sets the tone for the carnival, bringing together locals and visitors in a joyous and festive atmosphere.
ACB Caribbean Jr. Party Monarch
Date: Jul 25, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The ACB Caribbean Jr. Party Monarch is a competition specifically for young participants who showcase their singing and performance talents in a lively and spirited manner. It allows children and teenagers to express themselves through music and dance, competing for the title of Jr. Party Monarch amidst a backdrop of colorful costumes and enthusiastic crowds, adding a youthful and dynamic element to the carnival celebrations.
Face Off
Date: Jul 26, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
"Face Off" refers to a highly anticipated calypso competition where talented calypsonians compete for supremacy in lyrical prowess, social commentary, and performance artistry. It showcases the creativity and wit of participants who use their songs to address current events, social issues, and cultural themes, drawing large crowds eager to witness the spirited musical showdown.
Oasis T-Shirt Mas
Date: Jul 27, 2024
Location: St. Johns
Oasis T-Shirt Mas in Antigua Carnival refers to a festive event where participants wear creatively designed t-shirts adorned with vibrant colors, patterns, and themes. It offers a more casual and inclusive way for individuals to join the carnival celebrations, emphasizing fun, unity, and community spirit amidst the larger carnival festivities.
West Indies Oil Company Jr. Carnival
Date: Jul 28, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The West Indies Oil Company Jr. Carnival is a colorful and lively event specifically tailored for children and young participants. It features vibrant costumes, energetic music, and dancing, allowing the younger generation to showcase their cultural heritage and creativity in a joyful and festive atmosphere, adding a youthful charm to the overall carnival celebrations.
Jr. Calypso Monarch
Date: Jul 28, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The Jr. Calypso Monarch competition is a platform for young calypsonians to showcase their talent in composing and performing calypso music. Participants, typically children and teenagers, deliver witty and socially relevant lyrics set to lively rhythms, addressing local and sometimes global issues with humor and insight. It's a cherished tradition that nurtures artistic expression and cultural pride among the island's youth.
ECAB Mr & Miss Teenage Pageant
Date: Jul 29, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The ECAB Mr & Miss Teenage Pageant is an annual event that highlights the grace, talent, and intelligence of teenage participants. Contestants compete in various categories, including formal wear, talent, and question-answer segments, showcasing their poise and charisma on stage. It serves as a platform for young individuals to demonstrate their leadership skills and celebrate their cultural identity amidst the carnival festivities.
Druesday
Date: Jul 30, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
Jaycees Queen Show
Date: Jul 31, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The Jaycees Queen Show in Antigua Carnival is a prestigious beauty pageant where contestants compete in various categories such as evening gown, talent, and interview. It showcases the grace, elegance, and intelligence of the participants, who represent different aspects of Antiguan culture and heritage. The event culminates in the crowning of a queen who serves as an ambassador for Antigua's carnival celebrations.
Emancipation Watch Night
Date: Jul 31, 2024
Location: Botanical Gardens
Emancipation Watch Night commemorates the abolition of slavery with a solemn yet celebratory event held on July 31st. It includes cultural performances, music, and reflections on the island's history of emancipation, serving as a reminder of the resilience and freedom achieved by ancestors and fostering a sense of unity and pride among participants.
Melting Pot
Date: Aug 1, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
"Melting Pot" refers to a vibrant cultural showcase where various Caribbean nations and influences come together in a celebration of diversity. It features music, dance, costumes, and cuisine from different Caribbean islands, highlighting unity and shared cultural heritage amidst the festivities of Antigua's carnival.
Cavalier Rum Calypso Monarch
Date: Aug 2, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The Cavalier Rum Calypso Monarch in Antigua's carnival is a prestigious competition where seasoned calypsonians compete to deliver powerful social commentary through their lyrical compositions. It showcases the artistry of calypso music in addressing current events, cultural issues, and societal challenges, while also celebrating Antiguan culture and traditions with spirited performances and infectious rhythms.
State Insurance Company Ltd. Panorama
Date: Aug 3, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
Apua Inet Party Monarch
Date: Aug 4, 2024
Location: Antigua Recreation Ground
The APUA Inet Party Monarch in Antigua's carnival is a high-energy competition where participants vie to create and perform the most infectious soca songs. Contestants compete to capture the carnival spirit with lively beats and catchy lyrics, aiming to ignite excitement and get revelers dancing throughout the festivities.
Jóuvert St. Johns
Date: Aug 5, 2024
Location: St. Johns
J'ouvert in St. John's is an early morning celebration filled with music, dancing, and vibrant costumes. Participants gather before dawn to parade through the streets, covered in paint, mud, or powder, marking the start of the carnival season with a joyful and uninhibited street party.
Cardinal Monday
Date: Aug 5, 2024
Location: St. Johns
Cardinal Monday is a day dedicated to vibrant street celebrations where participants wear red attire and revel in the festive spirit. It precedes J'ouvert and serves as a lively precursor to the main carnival events, featuring music, dancing, and community camaraderie throughout the streets of St. John's and beyond.
Parade of the Bands
Date: Aug 6, 2024
Location: St. Johns
The Parade of the Bands is the main event where masqueraders adorned in elaborate costumes parade through the streets of St. John's. Each band showcases unique themes, colors, and choreography, accompanied by soca music trucks, creating a spectacle of cultural expression, creativity, and festivity that attracts locals and tourists alike.
Last Lap
Date: Aug 6, 2024
Location: St. Johns
Last Lap refers to the final day of celebrations marked by lively street parades, music, and dancing. It's a culmination of the carnival season where revelers and bands come together for a final round of festivities before the official close, embodying a joyous and spirited farewell to the carnival until the next year.
Need help planning a trip to the Antigua Carnival? Contact us here
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