Hey there Carnivalists!

2019 was the year of the small island carnival for me. If you would like to try a new carnival experience that has it’s own flair from what you’ve tried in the past, this list is for you. Otherwise, it’s just an overview of the carnivals to check out.

St. Kitts (Sugar Mas) 

Parade Date: January 1- 2, 2020 

Did you know you could bring in the New Year ON the road for Carnival? St. Kitts Carnival better known as Sugar Mas, takes places every year on January 1 and 2. According to the St.Kitts tourism board, the National Carnival opens on a Friday, rung in by a vibrant female calypso show and J’ouvert occurs on Boxing Day (December 26).

St.Kitts’ carnival is known as Sugar Mas because it is known as the sweetest carnival. Historically, St. Kitts was one of the leading sugar manufacturers post slavery. Til this day, you see miles of sugar cane fields in St. Kitts. Everything is about sugar, therefore the name took place.

Bermuda

Parade Date: June 15, 2020 

Carnival doesn’t have to be all parties and parades – you can enjoy gorgeous beaches as well. Nestled in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda is known for relaxation and their pink beaches. The sand gets its pink hue as a result of the shells of a tiny organism called the red foraminifera, which has a red coloring that mixes with the white sand.

Bermuda Heroes Weekend festivities kick off on a Thursday in June with the parade concluding the long weekend. Bermuda’s Carnival is participant heavy, with several music trucks playing and masqueraders dancing in the street. The weekend’s festivities include several parties, a concert, and a large beach event called Raft Up. At Raft Up, several catamarans and boats, anchor in the ocean while party attendees dance, drink and enjoy the clear blue waters. [Read my Bermuda Carnival 2019 Review]

St. Vincent 

Parade Date: July 6-7, 2020

Vincy Mas is the biggest festival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Promoted as “The Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean”, the carnival starts in the middle of June, culminating in a Monday and Tuesday at the start of July. Towns come alive with street parties, calypso and steel pan performances, costume parades and much more.

St. Lucia 

Parade Date: July 20-21, 2020

How do you put euphoria into words? VIBES! St.Lucia has TWO days of carnival, taking place annually on the third week of July. The vibe, music and events are unlike any other carnival I’ve experienced. In addition to the amazing fetes and the carnival itself, St. Lucia has some of the best hotels in the Caribbean. I’ll be joining Pumpcation for 2020, so if you wanna party with the littest team, link up. [Read my St.Lucia Carnival 2019 Review]

Antigua 

Parade Date: August 3-4, 2020

Regarded as the Greatest Caribbean Summer Festival, Antigua Carnival is a celebration of music and dance held annually from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. Antigua has TWO DAYS of carnival, and t-shirt mas the week prior. So if you come for 8 days, you could get 3 days on the road, and then jouvert. Who doesn’t want that? [Read my Antigua Carnival 2019 Review]

Known as the ‘Land of 365 Beaches, one for everyday of the year‘, there are several beach options as well. Carnival and white sand beaches in one? Sign me up

• Beaches: we have 365 beautiful options (preferred: Ffryes Beach, Dickenson Bay, Valley Church, Darkwood Beach

Anguilla  

Parade Date: August 7, 2020 

Considered the culinary powerhouse of the Caribbean, Anguilla boasts more than 100 restaurants on its 35-mile stretch, making it the perfect Carnival location for a foodie. Anguilla began its road to culinary fame in the 1980s when the island nation began developing their tourism, and now there is something for all palettes, from the beachside seafood shacks to the fine dining restaurants with Michelin star-awarded chefs. Anguilla’s Carnival takes places in August each year, and attendees can enjoy street festivals, boat racing, the grand parade, and of course, great food.

Personally, I am looking forward to visiting St.Kitts and St.Lucia for 2020!

Which carnivals will you attend?

Yours in Mas,