Whether you call it Carnival, Carnaval, or Carnevale, it is the world’s biggest Latin party.
Carnival in the Americas is a true celebration of freedom because it evolved into its current forms after abolition. During the Colonial Period, Carnival was the only time the African Diaspora and Indigenous Peoples where allowed to celebrate their own heritage traditions. But it went wild once people were free from their colonizers. That’s the Carnival we know today.
Traditional Carnival Carnaval Carnevale
Traditional Carnival is a Roman Catholic, Italian winter festival before Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, the Catholic spiritual preparation for Easter, the Christian spring festival.
Countries with Dutch or English colonizers tend to celebrate at other times of the year, so you can celebrate carnival all year long.
Carnival is different in every country, and even in different cities. It blends with the local culture. Carnivals may be more European, more African, or more Indigenous. Where Indigenous traditions dominate, there is often some recognition in music, dance, costumes, and traditions of an African Diaspora past that has been largely absorbed, but is not forgotten. You see this in Bolivia, an Indigenous country whose Carnival dances are mostly derived from the African Diaspora that once worked in the mines.
Carnival Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras
Traditional Carnival builds to a climax on Carnival Tuesday or Martes de Carnaval in Spanish. It’s also called Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras in French.
2025 Carnival builds to its climax on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
Trinidad Carnival is the Mother of Caribbean Carnival
Trinidad Carnival is the “Mother of Caribbean Carnival.” It’s traditions are celebrated around the world ~ including at London’s famed Notting Hill Carnival.
New York Carnival
New York Carnival follows Trinidad Carnival tradition on Labor Day Weekend.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras is famous. Most Americans know Carnival through Mardi Gras.
New Orleans is a city founded on Caribbean culture. The ferry to Havana, Cuba used to run twice a day. In 1810, half the New Orleans population was Haitian Diaspora.
Looking at New Orleans Mardi Gras from a Caribbean perspective, it looks an Americanized version of our Caribbean traditions. We are on the other side of the looking glass.
Fiestas Patronales
Countries have their big Carnival, but most small towns in the Latin world have local carnivals on the feast day of their patron saint. These are really beautiful because they are less commercial, a true expression of the local people. “Fiestas patronales” is the Spanish name for these small own carnivals, but they are throughout the Latin world.
Puerto Rico has wonderful fiestas patronales in small towns around the island ~ all year long.
North American Carnivals
- Belize Carnival is in September
- New Orleans Mardi Gras is January 6 to Carnival Tuesday, Mardi Gras.
- New York Carnival and the West Indian Day Parade, are on Labor Day Weekend in September.
Caribbean Carnivals
- Anguilla Summer Festival is in early August.
- Antigua Carnival is in early August.
- Barbuda Carnival is in early June.
- Aruba carnival is the traditional time.
- Barbados Crop Over is in early August.
- Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is the first week of May.
- Bermuda Carnival is the third weekend in June.
- Bonaire Carnival is the traditional time.
- British Virgin Islands Carnival
- Tortola is in early August
- Virgin Gorda is around Easter.
- Cayman Islands Batabano is in late April or early May.
- Cuba Carnival:
- Santiago de Cuba Carnival is in July
- Havana Carnival is in July or August
- Curaçao Carnival is the traditional time.
- Dominica Carnival is the traditional time.
- Dominican Republic Carnival is every Sunday in February in many towns across the country. It builds to a climax at Santo Domingo Carnival on February 27 or the first week of March.
- Grenada Carnival
- Carriacou Carnival is the traditional time.
- Spicemas is in early August
- Guadeloupe Carnival is the traditional time.
- Haiti Kanaval is the traditional time.
- Jamaica Carnival
- Jamaica Bacchanal is late March or early April.
- Jamaica Xodus is in April
- Jamaica Gen XS is in late March or early April.
- Martinique Carnival is the traditional time.
- Montserrat Festival is mid-December to early January.
- Puerto Rico Carnival is Carnaval de Ponce at the traditional time.
- Saba Carnival is the Saba Summer Festival in late July or early August.
- Saint-Barthélemy Carnival is at the traditional time.
- Saint Lucia Carnival is in July.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis Carnival
- Saint Kitts Carnival is in December and January.
- Nevis Carnival is Nevis Culturama in late July or early August.
- Saint-Martin Carnival is at the traditional time.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival is Vincy Mas in late June or early July.
- Saint Eustatius Carnival is Statia Carnival in late July or early August.
- Sint Maarten Carnival is in late April or early May.
- Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
- Trinidad Carnival is at the traditional time.
- Tobago Carnival is at the traditional time.
- Turks and Caicos Carnival is Junkanoo Jump Up in January.
- United States Virgin Islands Carnival
- Saint Croix Carnival is Crucian Carnival in late December and early January.
- Saint John Carnival is St. John Festival in June and early July.
- Saint Thomas carnival is Virgin Islands Carnival in April through early May.
South American Carnivals
- French Guiana Carnival is the traditional time.
- Guyana Carnival Mashramani climaxes on February 23, Guyanese Republic Day.
Experiencing Carnival
We tend to focus on the marches and parades of Carnival Tuesday, but the heart of Carnival is the community gathering to prepare the festival.
Preparations start six months before, and that’s when you should make your travel plans. The best way to experience the festival is to join a mas (French masquerade group), comparsa (Spanish marching group), or samba school (Brazilian marching group).
Preparations begin in earnest on Three Kings Day or Kings Day which is January 6. New Orleans Carnival actually starts on January 6. Events usually start a month before the big day. The last week and weekend build to a climax on Carnival Tuesday, which most Americans know as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
Carnival Caution
People get a little crazy during Carnival. Foreigners may be targets for petty crime. It’s a time for extra vigilance.
If you get robbed by a clown, the police can’t help you because there may be a thousand clowns. If you are not in tune with local traditions, it’s best to take a tour or go with a local friend.
More than anything, Carnival is fun. Las Vegas, Nevada copied a Carnival expression for their city slogan. “What happens in Carnival, stays in Carnival.” Be safe.