Trinidad - Event

Trinidad's carnival is the definitive street party. Each year, thousands of scantily-clad, sequinned and feathered masqueraders take to the streets to music provided by DJ trucks. Don sequins and feathers, glitter and body paint, and join the party.

Introduced by the French during their period of settlement in Trinidad in the late-18th century, the carnival was taken over by the ex-slaves after emancipation in 1838. They transformed the genteel dinners, costume balls and carriage rides into a frenzied street party which is today replicated in many cities across the world.

One of the aspects of carnival introduced by the ex-slaves was "J'ouvert" (pronounced "Jouvay"). J'ouvert or "ole mas" begins in the pre-dawn hours of Carnival Monday and allows thousands of people to roam and dance freely to sweet calypso and soca, in tattered clothing, body paint, oil, chocolate and mud.

The costumed mass dominates the streets on Carnival Monday evening and Carnival Tuesday. Many of the top bands provide masqueraders with an all-inclusive experience; included in the price of the costume is unfettered access to mobile bars with premium drinks, food, vanity areas and air-conditioned buses for the weary.

Carnival comprises a series of keenly contested and widely attended competitions. Combined with the hundreds of street and indoor fêtes, they bring the excitement throughout the country to fever pitch. Watch out for the finals of the steelband competition, the battles for the Soca and Calypso Monarch titles and the choosing of the carnival King and Queen. The carnival is not always incident-free, and visitors are advised to leave all valuables at home, venture out in groups only and stay away from dark and lonely places. Handbags and wallets should be left at home if possible and lifts should not be accepted from strangers.