A Guide To The World's Wildest Carnival Celebrations Sharing Happiness All-Around
Through the Caribbean islands to the streets of Europe.
Carnival parties are a sight to see, complete with food, entertainment, live music, and bright, outrageous Costumes. It’s an experience you won’t want to skip, with anything from shimmering feathery headpieces to wooden shoes. For several, it’s the last chance to let loose and relax until the start of Lent.
For some, it’s a way to focus on and enjoy life’s joys. But, beyond the revelry, several of these festivals have a rich tradition, ranging from masks that permitted lower-class Italians to Party openly among the rich to costumes believed to ward off evil spirits in Africa.
To assist you in managing the next Carnival party around the world, we’ve broken down 19 separate parties and what to do before you leave.
Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain
Month: February
Trinidadians spend the whole year preparing to wow each other—and hundreds of thousands of onlookers—during the Caribbean’s most huge Carnival, where custom-made bathing suit–like outfits, steel drums, native street fair, and street dancing combine to overwhelm the senses.
A key Carnival word to understand is “playing mas,” which refers to dancing through the streets with a costumed Carnival ensemble. To perform in the parade, you must represent one of the bands (hundreds to pick from, and you can sign up online). Your Band will recommend which costumes you can buy.
If you don’t want to do so, you can always attend the street party for free in your own outfit or shorts and a t-shirt. Wear lightweight shoes and light clothes so you can dance in the sun all day.
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Month: February
Nobody holds a party like Brazil, and no Brazilian party compares to Rio Carnaval. It is the world’s largest Carnival festival, drawing millions of people for a week of explosive, flamboyant, samba-shaking activity. Throughout the week, there will be a variety of events, including spontaneous street parades and do not forget to purchasethe ticket for the official Sambodrome parade ahead of time.
The majority of parade participants carry intricate costumes that are typically handcrafted, but spectators also dress loosely for the Sambadrome parade, incorporating tiny accessories such as beads or feather masks. Remember that the weather in February is hot and sticky, but festivalgoers on the street prefer to dress effortlessly for the occasion in jean shorts, airy skirts, and bright tops.
New Orleans
Month: February
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras is known as America’s ultimate street party, but New Orleans krewes (social groups that organize parties and balls) celebrate with parades all year, particularly in the weeks leading up to the annual celebration. The parades take place on various streets in New Orleans, and it’s vital to know the roads are for walking and which are only for the floats to ride through.
It’s customary to rock the Mardi Gras colors purple, green, and gold. Thousands of beads and trinkets are often tossed to fans at the parades, much of which you will carry as souvenirs when floats drive by. Popular face masks may also be purchased at local retailers. Don’t forget to bring a light jacket—it gets freezing at night.
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Oruro, Bolivia
Month: February
Bolivia’s main Carnival celebration honors the indigenous culture and pays tribute to the Virgin of Candelaria. It lasts about ten days and is marked by masks, textiles, and vibrant embroidery by the locals.
It’s better to buy a pass to get a clear view of the shows, which can be purchased at one of the stands along the parade line. Oruro’s streets explode with processions of interpretive folk dancing in devil robes, famous as the Diablada. It’s a cultural anthropologist and photographer’s fantasy.
The traditional folk dancers who serve different ethnic communities dominate the bulk of the clothing worn during Carnival. El Tio is the most common costume (the devil). Thousands of participants would be dressed in horned caps, silk capes, and shimmering metal-like breastplates.
If you intend on participating in the party, it’s better to come dressing casually, rather than in costume, since you’ll get soaked in the festivities. Partygoers can use water balloons, water pistols, and spray foam to celebrate the coming of joyous times. If you don’t want to get soaked, there will be street sellers selling fun ponchos you can buy.
Venice, Italy
Month: February
Carnival in Venice is decidedly more exclusive than its rivals in the Western Hemisphere, with fewer street shenanigans and more private celebrations and balls (tickets can be bought on the festival’s official website), where you’re supposed to appear in an over-the-top original outfit or mask.
The plurality of Carnival’s costumes represents the dress of Venetian noblemen and women, giving the event the impression of a massive historical re-enactment. Face masks, which originated in ancient Greek and Roman festivals, are among the most classic costume items, including the Bauta, a typical white mask with a square jaw line and no mouth.
They were used to mask lower-class members so that everybody might participate in the gatherings and activities. These masks, as well as other products, will be available from local street vendors.
Salvador, Brazil
Month: February
We love Rio’s Carnival but go to Salvador, Brazil, to adventure (slightly) fewer Americans and an Afro-Brazilian heartbeat. The blaring sounds of the region’s famous trios elétricos (think: moving live-music trucks)—and very powerful caipirinhas—power the Bahian Carnival.
There are three styles to celebrate Bahian Carnival, and how you wear it will depend on the one you want. You can dance with the crowd on the streets for free and wear anything you want, but locals mostly wear t-shirts and shorts. If you’d rather watch from the sidelines, there are camarotes (cabins) situated along the parade streets. This event requires tickets, and most attendees dress casually.
Finally, suppose you wish to join the party and dance in the Carnival whilst being apart from the crowd and in the center of the procession. In that case, you must purchase a pass and a t-shirt from one of the blocos (different parties competing in the parade) for whom you want to identify.
Barranquilla, Colombia
Month: February
African, Indigenous, European, and Middle Eastern cultures converge in Colombia’s biggest Carnaval festival in the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla. What’s the genuine excuse to go? This folkloric festival is one of the world’s best, but it draws far fewer foreign visitors than its Latin American counterparts. Both guests are expected to purchase Carnival tickets, so buying them in advance is the best option.
You’ll have more fun in Colombia if you dress up for the parade and blend in with the crowd. There will be several street markets in Barranquilla where you can buy colorful costumes and accessories. Look for feather headbands, face polish, and bright bottoms. It is also essential to be prepared to get filthy. During the festivities, you would undoubtedly be covered with something, ranging from foam to flour.
Binche, Belgium
Month: February
Also, UNESCO, which recently granted Carnival celebrations world heritage status, acknowledges that the Carnival of Binche, Belgium, is an odd outlier in a country that likes to party. During the street parades, performers such as Gilles wear extravagant feathered caps, and revelers alternate between cultural performances and unexpected practices (such as tossing oranges for good luck).
Binche’s costumes are made up of folklore figures and are worn to pay tribute to ancient customs. The most well-known is the Gilles, which are clown-like supernatural beings distinguished by their colorful outfits with wax masks and wooden boots.
Since Carnival is a sacred ritual for the residents, tourists cannot purchase the Gilles outfit, which can only be leased to official members. Come dressing effortlessly as a fan, and you’ll have plenty of fun admiring imaginative costumes and sampling delicious food.
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Month: February
Are you looking for a two-week party? Visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the streets erupt in wild parties for 15 days straight during Carnival, complete with elaborately plumed costumes and masked revelers.
There’s also the crucial annual selection of Carnival Queen, one of the most significant activities in which contestants march across a stage in the most beautiful and bulky costumes to gain the title. This festival is just second to Rio’s blockbuster activities.
All in Santa Cruz are invited to dress up and participate in the big street party. You have the choice of dressing up in an intricate, colorful costume with embellishments or purchasing body polish, headpieces, and colorful costume accessories (such as wings and hats) from nearby street vendors.
It would be best if you even came dressing comfortably, such as in a tee and trousers. However, most people believe that dressing up is the secret to understanding what Carnival is all about.
Dusseldorf, Germany
Month: February
The Carnival in Dusseldorf is one of Germany’s best, boldest, and wildest celebrations in the run-up to Ash Wednesday. Anyone in town should expect street parades, rowdy pubs, and even a day devoted solely to family-friendly events.
The Rose Monday parade, which includes 5,000 costumed dancers and lavish, witty floats as political satire, is still the highlight. Partygoers will toss candy and trinkets into the audience at the event.
The first day of Carnival begins with women dressed as witches pretending to abduct the mayor and seize the area. Following that, everybody is invited to dress up in costumes varying from cultural and political to funny.
Mazatlan, Mexico
Month: February
While Dia de los Muertos is the most famous annual fiesta in Mexico, the country should also be recognized for its numerous Carnival celebrations. Its biggest festival, which takes place along Mazatlán’s malecón, features big spectacular fireworks shows and live music to thrill both families and the raucous party crowd.
If you aren’t going to be in one of the costumed bands at the Mazatlan Carnival, dress casually, wear comfortable shoes, and wear some non-valuable costume jewelry, such as shimmery necklaces and bracelets. It’s also a brilliant idea to wear a sweater since it may get cold at night.
Cadiz, Spain
Month: February
Cadiz, Spain, is just as lively as other Carnival parties, but with a radically different goal: to purge society’s most pressing problems by parody and satire. Chirigotas, or musical performers, can be seen worldwide, showcasing their creative costumes and razor-sharp social criticisms by musical performances.
If you are going to Cadiz for Carnival, you can dress up in costume to participate in the festivities. What’s the better part? Since there are no laws, you can dress up as anything you want, much as you would for Halloween.
If you don’t have time to look for a costume before Carnival, you can buy one from a street seller, who will be selling fun masks, wigs, hats, and accessories so do not forget to bring along cash with you.
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