Captivating Caribbean Carnival in Antigua
Antigua's streets blossom with costumed dancersAntigua, a perfect Caribbean island with brilliant beaches, turquoise sea and flights from London Gatwick, offers a carnival of beautiful costumes and great music.
The ten day long summer carnival, described as the greatest in the Caribbean, was founded in 1957 to replace the island’s Christmas Festival. It celebrates the emancipation from slavery in 1834.
The celebrations, starting on the first week of July and ending on the first week of August, commence in St. John’s with a parade of jam and Calypso bands, costumed troupes and floats. The parade concludes at Carnival City (the Antigua Recreation Ground) with fireworks and this commences ten days of joyous dancing and contests.
Beauty pageants are a popular attraction of the festival. Teen Splash is highly anticipated; it judges youths of both sexes on categories such as “personality and aspiration”, “performing talent” and “research”. Queen of the Carnival, the most coveted beauty title in Antigua, along with Jaycees Caribbean Queen show, feature young ladies competing against each other in fabulous outfits.
Music plays a key part in the Carnival. The main types featured are Calypso (originating from music sung by slaves); there are many Calypso competitions that are very interesting to listen to, as the genre is mainly improvisational and depends on the skilful weaving of sounds by the soloist. Other important forms of music are steel drum bands, soca (with roots in American soul) and reggae that, although originating in Jamaica, is influential in Antigua’s culture.
J'ouvert, or Open Day”, is a highlight of the festival. It involves a street party, with open air performances by bands accompanied by costumed dancers. The carnival comes to an end with a beach party.
