Kingston - Event

Reggae and soca music give Jamaica Carnival its true Caribbean flavour and electric atmosphere. Watch the Jamaica Soca Monarch competition and follow the sensational children's and adult's costumed parades through Kingston to Liguanea Park.

Jamaica's Carnival is influenced strongly by Trinidad's world famous street party. Top Trinadadian soca acts, steelband ensembles and mas (costume) designers play a central part in Jamiaca's carnival and the concept of J'ouvert (French for 'opening of the day'), when revellers chip (shuffle feet) in early morning darkness to pulsating soca, was also borrowed from Trinidad.

Aspiring soca artists from different parishes compete for soca supremacy, thousands of dollars in prizes and a chance to compete at a regional level at the Jamaica Soca Monarch competition.

Carnival is celebrated in parishes such as Negril, Mandeville, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, with each of these areas organising their own costumed street parades, blowout fetes (parties) and, of course, Las Lap - the final jump-up party.