Dearest Carnivalists,
Your health, both mental and physical are of the utmost priority. With that in mind, I wanted to reach out to you directly with updates regarding cancelled or postponed events in the Caribbean space due to Corona Virus (COVID-19) . Event promoters and carnival bands for upcoming 2020 Carnival events have taken our safety into mind by postponing events or cancelling events. Below is a list of carnivals that have been postponed thus far.
Carnivals Postponed/Cancelled
- Cayman Carnival has been postponed until October 3, 2020
- Ocho Rios Carnival has been postponed until October 18, 2020
- Jamaica Carnival has been postponed until October 25, 2020.
- Orlando Carnival has been postponed to Labor Day Weekend
- Houston Carnival has been postponed to Labor Day Weekend
- St. Maarten Carnival, previously taking place on April 30 – May 1, 2020 has been postponed.
- St. Thomas Carnival, previously taking place on May 2 has been cancelled
- Bahamas Carnival, previously taking place on May 2 has been postponed
- Atlanta-Delkab Carnival, previously taking place on May 23 has been postponed
- Guyana Carnival, previously taking place on May 26 has been postponed
- Berlin Carnival, previously taking place on May 31 has been cancelled
- Hollywood Carnival, previously taking place on June 20 has been cancelled
- St. Vincent Carnival, previously taking place on July 6-7 has been cancelled
- St.Lucia Carnival, previously taking place on July 20-21 has been cancelled
- Toronto Carnival, previously taking place on August 1 has been cancelled
Caribbean Events Postponed/Cancelled
- Ibiza Soca Festival has been postponed to October 15-19, 2020
- Orlando Caribbean Festival previously taking place on March 14, 2020 has been postponed
- St. Lucia Jazz 2020 previously taking place May 7-9, 2020 has been cancelled.
- Tobago Jazz Experience 2020 previously taking place on April 23-26, 2020 has been cancelled
- Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations postponed
*As of April 9, 2020. This list will be updated as more information becomes available
COVID-19 impacts the global economy as well, since many of the products we utilize are shipped from other regions in the world, like China.
While I know this is frustrating for many and we all want enjoy our carnival trips, please use these preventative methods to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Keep track of preventative tips and updates from reputable authorities and sites, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html)
Regarding steps forward and refunds, please reach out to promoters and/or bands directly as to how that will be managed. Most carnival costume purchases have a no refund policy if purchased through M Carnival Manager, refer to your terms & conditions. In addition, the airlines have waived change fees, so if your schedule can handle the postponed events, you should be able to move your flights to the later dates with minimal issues.
Stay safe!
Yours in Mas,
