Atlanta Caribbean Carnival, USA
Vincy Mas, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Miami Broward Carnival, USA
Content of this article
What is the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival?
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The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is an annual celebration held in Atlanta, United States. The carnival fulfills its function of promoting spaces for a better understanding and deeper appreciation for the Caribbean culture that is located in the city of Atlanta. In addition, the carnival functions as a vehicle for thepromotion of Caribbean culture among the Atlanta community.
The celebration is one of the largest and fastest growing annual cultural events in the United States in recent years. Carnival is a magical celebration full of cultural manifestations through music, Caribbean cuisine, visual and scenic arts. The celebration has become agreat international event and thelargest cultural festival of its kind in the city and in the state of Georgia.
The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is a big celebration full of explosive rhythms andcalypso, soca, reggae and metal drumming music. In addition, it also featuresvendors from handicrafts to food and typical Caribbean drinks. The Carnival Parade is a must, so we encourage you to come and participate in the festivities. The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival has an annual turnout of up to 20,000 people, making the streets a complete riot of music and dance.
The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is a space for the expression of Atlanta’s Caribbean communities
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When is the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is a springtime celebration, as it usually takes place in the month of May.
Atlanta Caribbean Carnival will take place on approximately May 29,.
History of the Atlanta Caribbean Carnivals
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The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival emerged as a project with the aim of promoting, developing and promoting Caribbean culture in the city of Atlanta. In this way, it offers spaces to the various carnival groups means of expression through food, dance, music and diverse cultural manifestations. In addition, the carnival emerged with the intention of providing the community with a recreational area for entertainment with which they could identify.
In 1987, a large group of diverse nationalities from the Caribbean islands came together to familiarize the metropolitan Atlanta community with the Caribbean culture through the presentation of a traditional carnival of the Western Islands. Thus, thefirst Atlanta Caribbean Carnival took place in 1988, which was the beginning of a long trajectory of diverse carnival events in the city of Atlanta. The event was a huge success and attracted thousands of visitors to the Atlanta metropolitan area for Memorial Day weekend.
At the beginning of the 21st century, specifically in 2003, the various carnival bandleaders came together to form a grouping, today known as the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Bandleaders Association (ACCBA) or in Spanish, Asociación de Líderes del Carnaval del Caribe de Atlanta. This association was formalized for the purpose ofrepresenting the interests of the carnival bands in the planning of the Carnival of the Caribbean Atlanta. In addition, the organization served the purpose of serving as a vehicle for conveying the needs of the bands and offering mentorship and assistance to those involved in the creation of carnival costumes.
Since then, theCaribbean Carnival Leaders Association of Atlanta has been responsible for producing events that help raise awareness of the variousCaribbean art forms and working within the community topromote diversity and arts education. Each year, the organization is charged with providing the best possible entertainment for the enjoyment of the entire Caribbean community in the area.
Where is the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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The carnivals are held in the capital city of the state of Georgia, Atlanta. Currently, the city represents the most populous city in the entire state.
The city of Atlanta has a total area of 354 square kilometers, which is home to approximately half a million people.
People dance during the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival parade
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How the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is celebrated
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All people are invited to participate in the event, especially the city’s Caribbean community, as the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is a space where people can strongly express their culture and roots. The carnival is a vehicle of expression where you can see dozens of cultural manifestations through the music characteristic of the Caribbean such as the soca and the calypso, the dance, the jump-ups, the Bandas Mas, and the distinctive Caribbean J’ouvert.
As usual, carnivals feature some events that stand out above the rest, which is why we offer you some celebrations in particular:
J’ouvert
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The J’ouvert has become one of the iconic celebrations of the Caribbean carnivals. During the celebration, there are various elements such as live music and dancing. In addition, the celebrations are held from one day to the next until dawn or from dawn to dawn. The J’ouvert is an event full of excitement and frenzy that features people dancing and partying with great excitement.
Usually, people who go to the J’ouvert, may wear some sort of uniform or simple costume; however, the true essence of the celebration is to get dirty.Hundreds of people take to the streets covered in motor oil, dirt, mud paint or simply water to celebrate while getting others dirty. In addition, some people may carry chains or horns.
J’ouvert is much more than a fun celebration, as it represents the very essence of Caribbean culture. The J’ouvert celebration began to be celebrated once slavery was abolished, so this celebration represents freedom, happiness and the opportunity to express yourself as you really are.
Parade
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The Caribbean Carnival Parade is one of the most anticipated events of the carnival, as it is the perfect opportunity to put on a great colorful costume and go out to dance and party in the streets of the city. People attend the carnival with the respective Bandas Mas of the Caribbean carnivals. In addition, each of the bands has its respective colorful ensemble, so you will see hundreds of people wearing similar costumes, which usually these people are grouped with their peers.
The parade celebration is a true representation of pure and top quality fun. Live music bands and big trucks with speakers are present in the streets of the city to provide the participants with the best entertainment. In addition, traditional Caribbean rhythms dominate the scene, so all day long you will be listening and dancing to calypso, soca and metal drums.
As is the tradition of Caribbean carnivals, each celebration has its own Mas Bands or Mas Bands. The bands you have available for the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival are:
- Calabash Alley
- Vivacious Mas Band
- Fun Zone
- Taste of Elegance
- Mystikal
- Chinapoo
- Pansonics Steel Band
- Haus of V
Every year the bands offers new costumes and outfits for both men and women, so keep an eye on their website and discover everything the bands have to offer you.
Tips for going to the Atlanta Caribbean Carnivals
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If you want to attend the Atlanta Caribbean Carnivals, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making a travel itinerary and booking your preferred accommodations in advance. In addition, we recommend you pack comfortable clothes and shoes so you can fully enjoy your carnivals.
Physical activity, the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the heat can cause your body to dehydrate quickly, so we recommend staying hydrated and applying sunscreen every 30 minutes if you are in direct sunlight.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:
Events at Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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If you think that two days of celebration are not enough to be able to live a goodCarnival experience, you would be wrong, as the Caribbean Carnival of Atlanta features plenty of top-quality entertainment from start to finish.
Pre-Carnival events
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Children’s Carnival
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Children’s carnival takes place a week before the official carnivals and its main objective is toinclude the youngest members of the household in the traditions of the Caribbean community. The children have exclusive entertainment at the parties and even have their own costumes from the Bandas Mas. The day is mainly to celebrate with the family and ensure that the children can be a direct part of the festivities.
Official Carnival Events
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J’ouvert
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J’ouvert is the first celebration held at Caribbean Carnival Atlanta and usually runs from 9 pm until 4 am. The event is a parade-like ride similar to a carnival parade. However, it usually does not include the Bandas Mas ensembles. The presence of Caribbean music is indispensable. In addition, people are accustomed to celebrate a great war of earth, water, mud, paint or talcum powder.
The J’ouvert continues the party ambient music arranged for the public covering mainly Caribbean genres such as Reggae, calypso, soca and the characteristic metal drums concerts.
Carnival Parade
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The Carnival Parade takes place on thesecond and last day of the festivities. During the event hundreds of people congregate in the streets to be part of agreat street celebration. The various bands group together and form a big celebration. Usually, each Banda Mas has its own celebration area, so they party with the same people who own their same outfits.
Festivals
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On the same day as the carnival parade, variousCaribbean music groups perform on stage. The festival begins at approximately 11:00 a.m. and lasts until nightfall. The event featuresmusical ambiance proposed by DJs comprising mainly mixed Caribbean music and the presentations of live singers and bands. The carnivals have featured the participation of about 8 music artists and the entertainment of 6 DJs or music stations.
Post Carnival Events
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Breakfast Fete
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In previous editions, there has been an event known as Breakfast Fete heldone day after the official events. It is usuallydaytime entertainment and somewhat quieter than the rest of the presentations and events that have been taking place the previous days.
People party in the streets during the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade
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Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parades
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The Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Parade takes place on the last day of the celebrations. The parade features diverse environments sounds for the entertainment of the masses. In addition, the street celebration is a great hubbub ofbright colors, feathers and glitter. Each Banda Mas congregates with its peers, making the party a great colorful celebration.
People look forward to this day with great excitement, as it represents the soul and body of the carnivals. Taking to the streets, people express themselves mainly through dancing. In addition, the live music generates a great atmosphere of celebration that you must experience at least once in your life and the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival is your ideal choice.
Parade route
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Atlanta Caribbean Carnival includes activities such as parade, J’ouvert and live music
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People begin to congregate for the parade from 9:30 a.m. on William Holmes Borders Senior Dr. Once the clock announces 11:30 a.m. the parade will begin. The route begins at Gartrell Street, crosses over to Jackson Street and continues to Cahmberlain Street, past Edgewood Avenue, Aurburn Avenue, Irwin Street, John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Cain Street and then Jackson Street.
The parade then turns onto Highland Avenue and then crosses back to the right at Central Park and heads to Ralph McGill Boulevard and Angier Avenue. Finally, the parade turns right onto Linden Avenue and ends in Central Park at approximately 4 or 5 pm.
Jerk Chicken is one of the most emblematic dishes of Caribbean food
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What to eat at the Caribbean Carnival in Atlanta
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Fortunately, the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival offers you some food stalls where you can try a lot of traditional dishes and drinks of the best quality. Caribbean food is one of the best in the world and of course, one of the most important cultural presentations at any Caribbean carnival in the world.
One of the classics of Caribbean food served everywhere is the Jerk Chicken. This dish is one of the most well known with respect to Caribbean food festivals. It is a well-spiced and spicy chicken dish that is cooked on the grill. This way, the chicken is left with a crunchy and sweet crust, a perfect dish to eat during carnivals.
One of the most traditional and recognized drinks of the Caribbean gastronomy is the Rum Punch. It is a colorful and cheerful drink made with pineapple, fresh lime and orange juice. All this is amalgamated with a good splash of grenadine and the best rum you can get. The drink is garnished with some cherries and served chilled.
In addition, the city of Atlanta has a large number of restaurants, bars and cafes where you can expand your gastronomic knowledge of the city. Some of the most famous places are: Ray’s in the City, Bone’s Restaurant, Canoe and Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse.
Rum Punch is one of the most popular Caribbean drinks
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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 Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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Atlanta Caribbean Carnival offers you a wide variety of entertainment that you can’t miss if you neglect to attend the carnivals. One of the first events you shouldattend is the J’ouvert. There you’ll find aparty like no other, full of people, music and a great ambience of celebration, talcum powder, paint and dirt warfare.
In addition, you should not miss the parade with the Bandas Mas, one of the main attractions of the Caribbean carnivals. At the event you’ll find entertainment of the highest quality which is found with agreat number of Mas Bands sets and costumes. Finally, attend the parties that take place after the parade, they feature a wonderful ambiance and diverse artists who perform live. Definitely, these carnivals are an opportunity that you should not miss for anything in the world.
What to see and do outside of the Atlanta Caribbean Carnivals
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Atlanta Botanical Garden
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It is a botanical garden that extends over 12 hectares. The garden was founded in the year 1976 and has a total of $23 million in revenue. Within its facilities you can find formal gardens, Japanese gardens, rose gardens, rainforests and deserts. In addition, it has some species of fauna such as turtles, poison dart frogs and birds.
Georgia Aquarium
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It is a public museum and is the most important of the entire state. Inside it contains various exhibits and galleries with a total of 38,000 cubic meters of water. The museum was opened in 2005 and has 2.5 million visitors a year. Inside it has exhibits of tropical animals, dolphins, seahorses, seabirds, crabs, beluga whales, jellyfish and hundreds of species from different parts of the world.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
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It is a museum dedicated to the achievements of the civil rights movement in the United States. The museum was established in 2014 and has several permanent and temporary exhibits. Some of these exhibits tell the history of the civil rights movement in the country, while others focus on contemporary national and international struggles.
Safety at the Caribbean Carnivals in Atlanta
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In general, Atlanta has a somewhat higher crime rate than the rest of the cities in the state; however, the rate is somewhat scattered, so it varies from area to area. Also, this should not stop you from visiting carnivals, as crimes have been decreasing over the years and are mostly non-violent crimes.
Also, we recommend the following products to keep your items safe:
Weather at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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During the carnival festival, the city of Atlanta boasts pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 27 degrees Celsius.
People group according to Atlanta Caribbean Carnival Mas Bands
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How to get to Caribbean Carnival Atlanta
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How to get there by plane
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The closest airport to the city is Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which receives a good number of flights from various parts of the world and domestic. Once you are here, you can use the various means of transportation to get to the center of the city.
How to get there by subway
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From the airport you can take a subway train via the RED and GOLD lines. The ride is 15 minutes and will take you to Garnett Station.
How to get there by bus
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From the airport you can take a Greyhound USA bus on the 1548, 3956, 3890 or 3958 lines.
How to get there by car
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From the airport you can take a car via I-85 N. The drive is 13 minutes.
If you decide to take a cab, the cost of a taxi is $28 to $35 US dollars.
Moving around the city
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By train
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MARTA offers a fast and safe system to move around the city that are distributed in the 4 points of the city. Generally, fares are low and trains approach the station every 10 to 20 minutes.
By bus
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MARTA also offers you more than 100 bus lines that are distributed in the urban and suburban areas of the city. Buses pass through the station every 12 to 15 minutes.
Where to stay at the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival
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SpringHill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Downtown
3-star hotel 1.5 miles from downtown. Rooms feature TV, desk, sitting area, refrigerator and private bathroom with basic toiletries. The hotel has a bar, restaurant, gym and free wifi.
Hyatt Place Atlanta Downtown
3-star hotel 1.6 km from downtown. Rooms feature TV, desk and private bathroom with basic toiletries. The hotel has a bar, fitness center, parking and free Wi-Fi.
Aloft Atlanta Downtown
3-star hotel 1.6 km from downtown. Rooms feature cable TV, coffee set, desk and private bathroom with hairdryer. The hotel has a swimming pool, bar, parking and free Wi-Fi.
We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
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