Saint Kitts and Nevis Carnival

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What is Saint Kitts Carnival?

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The Saint Kitts Carnival in Saint Christopher and Nevis is one of the most important events of the year, also known as Sugar Mas. These festivities begin in November and culminate at the beginning of the new year, filling the streets of the city with dancing, parades, presentations, music, costumes and fun. The streets are filled with soca and calypso music, accompanied by colorful costumes, typical costumes, clowns, “Moko-Jumbies”.

Year after year, Saint Kitts is filled with tens of large-scale events and activities, which can draw thousands of people. One of the most widely attended celebrations is the J’ouvert, when the main parade is held and people from all regions of the country and the Caribbean come to take part in these winter carnivals.

 

 

The festivities also possess their competitions in the different areas, some of these is the Queen’s contest and the calypso contest. Both competitions are extremely tough, as each group and participant puts into practice all their talent to obtain the title of winner..

On Christmas Day, people take to the streets to party. In addition, on January 1, the Grand Parade is held, the perfect excuse to take to the streets and celebrate the New Year with Caribbean music, masks, costumes, folk groups and bandas..

 

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When is Saint Kitts Carnival?

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St. Kitts Carnival will begin approximately in November, ending on January 2.

 

 

History of Saint Kitts Carnivals

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In its beginnings the celebration coincided with the Catholic religion and Lent, a period of breakfast before Easter. Traditionally, all foods such as sugar, meat, dairy and alcohol were eliminated or had to be consumed before Lent, as they were not allowed to be consumed during those four weeks. From this principle theconcept of carnival was created, turning the festivities into an uncontrolled party season.

Europeans brought the celebration to San Cristobal and other Caribbean countries, but slaves were excluded from participating. However, after emancipation in the Caribbean, slaves began to take an active part in the festivities. Therefore, the modern Carnival has evolved from the combination of main elements such as the song, the music, the dance and the costume of various originals.

Today the carnivals in Saint Kitts comprise a conglomerate of other traditions added to the carnival that also date back to the slavery era, turning the streets of the city into a giant stage where people dress up and dance to the rhythm of calypso and other Caribbean tunes.

 

Where is the Carnival of Saint Kitts?

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The Saint Kitts Carnival is held on the island of Saint Kitts, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in the city of Basseterre. Carnivals are held in the different parts of the city.

 

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How is the St Kitts Carnival celebrated?

The streets of the city are filled with color and costumes for a period of almost two months. The Saint Kitts carnival celebrations revolve around traditional folklore. Some of the hallmarks of the festival are the calypso competition, and the queen show, the masquerades, street dances, parades and performances as is carnival tradition. In this way, the carnival season on the island is a constant party from beginning to end.

All the celebration takes place during the month of December; therefore, the days of carnival and New Year’s Eve are also celebrated in carnival style. On December 26, the J’ouvert, a ceremony where people take to the streets to party, dance and enjoy Caribbean rhythms that ends on the beach.

The first of the year is the Grand Parade, the streets are filled with colors, masks, clowns and dresses.

Finally, the Last Lap takes place, the last chance people have to enjoy the carnival and the grand closing takes place.

 

Tips for going to the Saint Kitts Carnivals

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If you wish to attend the Saint Kitts Carnivals, it is important that you make a travel itinerary and plan your trip in advance so that you can fully enjoy the festivities.

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

 

Events in Saint Kitts Carnival

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It is tradition that carnivals open with the female calypso competition. Dfrom this point, festivities occur sporadically, but regularly, as the following week sees various celebrations revolving around folklorelocal, competitions and events.

The J’ouvert enlivens the traditional festivities with street shows. People congregate in the streets of the city in the early morning to party, dance and make a racket. The streets are transformed into a carnival spectacle with costumes, clowns and masks. In addition, people cover themselves with paint and end the celebration on the beach.

 

 

The grand parade is the main celebration and takes place during the new year. Again the streets are the stage for groups of people who dress up in big costumes, feathers, sequins and masks to celebrate both the New Year, and the Carnival festivities. The city is rocking with celebrations and traditional music. Likewise, the main parade is also loaded with national representation, culture and history.

The carnival has a closing calledLast Lap which takes placeafter the grand parade, it is the last opportunity for participants to celebrate and farewell to the carnivals to start again in November.

 

 

Saint Kitts Carnival Parades

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The main carnival parade takes place in the new year. People take to the streets toparty with masks, costumes and calypso.The streets of the city are filled with colors and traditional music to celebrate the first of the year and one of the most anticipated events of the carnival. The following day is the Last Lap, another ceremony where people take to the streets to celebrate for the last time.

 

Parade route

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The main parade is held on the first of the year and travels through the main streets and avenues of the city as well as the different points of Basseterre.

 

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What to eat at Saint Kitts Carnival

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One of the traditional foods are the Johnny Cakes, which are doughnuts made of wheat flour and shredded coconut, then fried in oil. You can also find Conch Fritters, which are made with a mixture of flour and sea snails.

The best-known food places in town are: Marshalls, Serendipity and El Fredos Restaurant and Bar. They offer a Mediterranean and Caribbean menu.

 

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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 Saint Kitts Carnival

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Within the carnivals you have a plethora of activities in which you can participate. One of them is to attend the women’s calypso competition that opens the celebrations. You can also go to the different folk music and calypso performances and events.

Another option is to attend the J’ouvert, you have the chance to go out into the streets and share with all the participants, dance and listen to traditional music. Of course, you can’t miss the main parade on January 1 and the following day attend the Last Lap, the last chance you have to enjoy the festivities before the carnivals end.

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 of Saint Kitts Carnivals

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The city has a few attractions you can visit.

 

Cockleshell Beach

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It is a quiet beach where you can spend the afternoon. The waters are clear and the sands are clean, ideal to stay until late afternoon and have refreshing drinks.

 

Port Zante

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It is a fort with great historical value. Within the premises there is a commercial area that you can visit to eat or drink.

 

Independence Square

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It is a public space in commemoration of its independence. Today it is an administrative, social and commercial center of the city.

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

 

Safety at Saint Kitts Carnivals

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The city of Basseterre is relatively quiet, you can walk around during the day without any inconvenience, but it is always advisable to be cautious.

Remember not to carry large amounts of cash and keep your belongings in a safe place. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at Saint Kitts Carnival

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The local climate is pleasant. The average temperature during Carnival is about 27 degrees Celsius.

 

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How to get to St Kitts Carnivals

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to the city of Basseterre, the city where the carnival is held, is the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. From there you can drive to the center of the city.

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 boat

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If you decide to come to the carnivals by sea, Basseterre has ports wherecruisers and yachts from all over the world arrive.

 

How to get there by car

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From the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport, take a vehicle to the city center. The drive is 3 minutes.

 

Where to stay in Saint Kitts Carnival

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Booking.com

 

King’s Pavilion Hotel

4-star hotel 450 m from the center. Rooms have A/C, TV and private bathroom.

 

Bird Rock Beach Hotel

3 star hotel 2.4 km from the center. Rooms have air conditioning, wifi and private bathrooms. Facilities include a bar and swimming pool.

 

Imperial Bay Beach and Golf Residence

Residences 3.4 km from the center. The rooms have internet, parking space, washing machine and private bathroom. The facilities have swimming pool and entrance to the beach.

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

 

Thank you for reading

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