Braccanal Carnival, Cayman Islands

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What is the Braccanal Carnival?

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Braccanal Carnival is a celebration that takes place every year in Caiman Brac, one of the islands belonging to the Cayman Islands archipelago. Carnivals are a series of big events that fill the streets are costumes, carnival shirts and visitors from all over the island and the region. Carnival is a constant celebration of soca music and local island food. In addition, it is a party to spend with friends, family and neighbors.

Some of the objectives of theCarnival of Braccanal are to highlight Cayman Brac Island as a tourist destination and offer a high quality carnival experience. However, it also seeks tobring awareness of the natural beauty and all that the island has to offer.

 

 

The carnivals of Braccanal have a good repertoire of activities and parties such as the ‘Wet Fete’. In addition, it also has the participation of diverse DJ’s who liven up the parties during the nightly celebrations. Likewise, the carnivals have their own parade, one of the most anticipated events that is characterized by being a day full of parties and various colors shining through the streets of the city.

Braccanal Carnival is carried out with the collaboration of a committee, which is composed of 19 volunteers who reside in both Caiman Brac and Grand Cayman. This Committee functions as ademocratic institution in which all members vote and have a voice in the operation and planning of the Carnival Festivities.

 

Carnival Package

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Carnival has a few items that they include within the carnival celebrations. These function as a sort of Mas Band, but it is solely from the committee that organizes the carnivals. The package includes a T-shirt, bottle of water, alcoholic beverages, a gift bag and various entertainment. In addition, the T-shirts feature a limited edition.

The price of the package is Cayman Islands Dollars 50, which is approximately US$60.

In addition, the Braccanal Carnival has the particularity that it uses the funds generated to carry out different social programs for elders, youth and different volunteer activities.

 

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When is Braccanal Carnival

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The Braccanal Carnivals in Cayman Brac take place during the month of May, occupying a 4-day event filled with activities, parties and parades. The tentative date for the carnivals is from May 13 to May 17.

 

 

History of the Braccanal Carnivals

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The Carnival was created as a fundraiser for the Rotary Club, being exclusively for the Schools of Cayman Brac. The Rotary Club or Rotary International of Caiman Brac was the founder of the Caiman Brac Festivals. The Rotary Club is a company whose task is to bring together different important people of the world in their different areas that usually includes the business, professional, university and civilian sectors in order to offer humanitarian services to the different community sectors and societies of the world. The work of the Rotary Club operates in an ethical manner and preserves the objective of establishing world peace.

As the carnival had originally been an event exclusively for fundraising for schools and children, at that time there were no adult bands in the parade and no alcohol was served. A large part of the schools participated and were part of the street events, in which the handmade costumes that each school produced predominated. In addition, each school had the power to decide what theme to choose for the carnivals.

Over the years, the carnival passed into the hands of another organizer, holding nighttime events, which were for adults only and were held in private clubs, bars and restaurants. These night parties began to bear the name of “Fete”, which could have a particular theme such as Wet Fete or Foam Fete, among others. The entertainment at the parties was led almost exclusively by DJs, who were brought in fromGrand Cayman and Miami. In addition, the event also featured parades with floats.

Thus, the celebration had become a celebration for both children and adults, incorporating costumed parades and costumes in the streets of the city, which were accompanied by soca music performances. Alcohol began to creep into the parade for adults and it was no longer a parade primarily intended for the children of the city’s schools.

In 2012, the Braccanal Carnival began incorporating the Mas Band into the parade. Initially these were performed by Sophia Johnston and Nickeah Esteban, who acquired help from other volunteers. The new element proved to be a complete success, as never before had a Mas Band been integrated into parades. From that point on, they began marketing T-shirts that people could purchase for the Carnival celebration..

In addition, that same year a committee for the carnivals was created, the same has grown to a large scale, containing some 19 members to this day. At that time, the committee was in charge of ensuring the logistics and preserving the order of the events. One of the committee’s strategies was to offer packages with T-shirts and thermoses, in which adults could hide alcoholic beverages and pretend they were water.

Also, the committee is in charge of encouraging other activities that take place during carnival time or other festive activities during the year on the island.

 

Where is the Braccanal Carnival

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Braccanal Carnival is held on one of the Cayman Islands islands called Cayman Brac. This formation is located northeast of Grand Cayman. The total area of the island is about 36 kilometers and they have about 1,800 inhabitants.

 

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How the Braccanal Carnival is celebrated

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Braccanal Carnival has a somewhat varied program ranging from festivals or fetes, music concerts and the carnival parades. Within the festivities you can find plenty of good entertainment and themed parties.

 

Fetes

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A fete is an alternative name for fiesta or festival. Fetes are public festivals that are held outdoors and are sometimes organized to raise funds for a charitable organization or a common purpose. During the festivities there is entertainment and usually also includes the sale of goods. In the Caribbean countries, especially the English-speaking countries, fetes are large parties held during the Carnival season.

Braccanal Carnival features two main fetes: The Brunch Fete and Beach Cooler Fete.

Concerts

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The music is one of the components that can never be missing in carnivals, especially in the Caribbean carnivals. The Braccanal carnivals features some musical performances and entertainment of the highest quality throughout the event. However, it has a soca concert where a large number of people attend, being one of the musical events with the greatest impact.

 

Parades

The carnival of Braccanal since its inception has had two parades: the children’s parade and the adult parade, the latter being the main parade.

The parade for children or children features the participation of theyoung people from the island’s schools and is an event much more suitable for all audiences. While the adult parade is composed of great musical entertainment, dancing and of course, the wearing of carnival T-shirts offering a variety of alcoholic drinks and termos.

 

Tips for going to the Braccanal Carnivals

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If you wish to attend the Braccanal Carnivals, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making a travel itinerary and booking your preferred accommodation in advance.

In addition, we advise you to purchase a carnival package that includes a T-shirt, thermos, drinks, gift bag and different services. This way you will be able to live a complete carnival experience. Also, we remind you that some events require tickets, but most of them are 20 Cayman Islands dollars.

Weather conditions, heat, physical activity and alcohol consumption cause your body to dehydrate, so we recommend you to stay hydrated and carry a thermos or container of water with you.

Remember to apply sunscreen every 30 minutes, especially if you attend events during the day, since during carnival season temperatures tend to rise and the sun is much stronger.

Remember to pack comfortable clothes and shoes to celebrate Braccanal carnivals, as you will be moving and walking all day.

Be sure to keep your valuables and documents such as your ID and passport in a safe place, especially during crowded events.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.

 

Events in Braccanal Carnival

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The schedule of the carnival of Braccanal occupies 5 days in which daily activities are held between fetes, concerts, musical presentations and parades.

On the first day of the celebrations, a party is held. In previous years there have been silent parties or Silent Party, which consist of a gathering of people to party with headphones. This type of event has been becoming popular in different regions of the world and has the particularity that you can change the song you listen to if it is not to your liking.

 

 

After this, athemed party is held along with a Soca concert. The following day the adult parade takes place at 3 p.m. starting from Spot Bay to La Esperanza. After the parade, an After Party is held.

On the last days, there are continuous parties, which have a particular theme. Usually the parties are held during the night and in different parts of the island as on the beach or simply on a stage installed in the streets of the city.

 

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Braccanal Carnival Parades

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The main parade is one of the most anticipated events of the entireCarnival celebration. The event takes place in the streets of the island and features great quality entertainment, live music, drinks and a great fun atmosphere. In addition, people have their respective event T-shirts that they acquire when purchasing the package that the carnival committee offers.

 

Parade route

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Generally, the parade takes place from Spot Bay to Creek in Cayman Brac. However, there have also been routes from Spot Bay to La Esperanza, near the Cayman Brac hospital.

 

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What to eat at the Braccanal Carnival

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The Coconut Shrimp is one of the most traditional dishes of the Cayman Islands. It is a dish of shrimp that are coated in shredded coconut and then fried in plenty of oil. It is usually accompanied with a sauce, either a light chili sauce or a spicy mayonnaise. It is one of the most popular dishes of the island.

Another traditional dish of Cayman Islands is the Heavy Cake or Cassava Cake. It is a cake made with coconut milk, sugar, various spices and cassava. The result is a dense and sweet cake considered a traditional dish of the islands.

In addition, Cayman Brac offers you some options for dining out such as: Tipsy Turtle Bar, Barracudas Bar & Restaurant, Captain’s Table, Star Island Restaurant and Barry’s Golden Jerk. These bars and restaurants offer a varied menu featuring American, Caribbean, grill, pizza and some vegetarian options.

 

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Travel Insurance

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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Braccanal Carnival

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One inside the carnivals, you have anumber of activities and events in which you can participate. At the beginning of the carnivals you can be part of the opening party. In addition, you canattend the different music presentations and concerts.

Also, you can’t miss the main parade of the carnivals. We recommend purchasing the package that the Braccanal Carnival Committee offers you to have a complete experience of the carnivals in the Cayman Islands.

Finally, we advise you to attend the festivals or fetes that take place on the last days of celebration, as they will offer you a true experience of joy, partying and fun.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside the Braccanal Carnivals

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Cayman Brac has some mainly natural tourist attractions that you won’t want to miss.

 

The Bat’s Cave

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This is a cave that is characterized by having a large number of bats. The entrance to it is easily accessible and inside there are different stone sales and rock formations. The cave is illuminated most of the way, but we also recommend you to bring a flashlight to facilitate your vision inside the facilities.

 

The Bluff

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This is a cliff with several rock formations and caves. Also, if you visit the place with a guide, you can go bird watching. The cliff is an incredible place to take pictures and appreciate the immensity of nature.

 

Peter’s Cave

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This is one of the caves that can be found in Cayman Brac. The entrance of the cave is somewhat small, but the rest of the enclosure is of great size. From here you get an incredible view of the bay. If you wish to attend, remember to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, as you will probably get wet and have to crawl to reach some places inside the cave.

 

Cayman Brac Museum

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It is a small museum that contains different pieces of documentation and artifacts dating back to the early 20th century. It also has extensive documentation of the hurricane that occurred on the island in 1932.

 

Cayman Brac Lighthouse

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This is the island’s lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is not too attractive, but once at the top you can get a commanding view of the ocean and the cliff.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety at the Braccanal Carnival

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Cayman Brac is a safe destination, so you can visit the streets both day and night without any problem. We advise you to implement basic safety measures and use common sense. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your items safe:

 

 

Weather at Braccanal Carnival

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The weather during Braccanal Carnival is somewhat hot, with temperatures ranging between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius. We remind you to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen whenever your skin needs it.

 

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How to get to the Braccanal Carnivals

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How to get there by plane

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Cayman Brac has its own airport called Sir Captain Charles Kirkconnell International Airport. However, to get there you need to firstland at Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman and then take a flight to Cayman Brac. Once there, you can make use of the different means of transportation to get to the city center.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by ferry

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Oddly enough, there are no access routes between the 3 islands of Cayman Islands. The only possible option is to approach from Grand Cayman or Little Cayman via yachts or private boats.

 

How to get there by car

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Once you are at Sir Captain Charles Kirkconnell International Airport, take a cab or car down West Side Street to Spot Bay, where the carnivals are held.

 

Where to stay at Braccanal Carnival

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Accommodation in Cayman Brac is quite scarce, so we offer you some options in both Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman..

 

Booking.com

 

Lovely Stake Bay ‘Sea Dreams Villa

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This is an 80 square meter villa located in Brac Cayman. The building has two bedrooms, cable TV, equipped kitchen, washing machine and stove. It also has a garden and free wifi. The rental of the villa includes all areas of the house.

 

In Grand Cayman you can find:

 

Whitesands by Cayman Villas

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This is a villa with living room, equipped kitchen, satellite TV and private bathroom with shower. It also features free Wi-Fi, free parking and is 8 km from Owen Roberts Airport.

 

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa

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5-star resort. Rooms feature cable TV, private bath with shower or bathtub and basic toiletries. Facilities include spa, fitness center, open-air outdoor pool, restaurant, bar, bicycle rental, main and direct beach entrance and some common areas with barbecue facilities.

 

Palm Heights

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5-star hotel. Rooms feature air conditioning, living room, flat screen satellite TV, well equipped kitchen, dining area and private bathroom with basic toiletries, shower and hairdryer. In addition, the resorts offer 2 swimming pools, fitness center, bar, direct entrance to the beach, coffee and tea set in all rooms, parking and free wifi.

 

Regal Beach Club

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This is an aparthotel with this area, satellite TV, well equipped kitchen, microwave, dishwasher, oven, toaster and coffee maker. It also has a private bathroom with shower, bathtub and basic personal toiletries. The facilities offer garden, barbecue areas, parking and free wifi. The aparthotel is 4 kilometers from Owen Roberts Airport.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

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