Orlando Carnival, USA

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What is Carnival Orlando?

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The Orlando Carnival, also known as the Orlando Carnival Downtown, is an annual celebration held in Orlando, Florida. The event is a true celebration for the Caribbean community in the area, as it features a large number of events that highlight the characteristic identity of the community through various cultural elements such as music, food and dancing.

TOrlando Carnivals have been present in the community for more than 30 years, offering a large number of events of all kinds. The Carnival celebration in Orlando features several festive days full of events that will make you dance and enjoy yourself from start to finish. The Soca, the food, the fetes and the parades are just a part of all the activities that take place in the streets of the city.

 

No matter who you are, where you’re from or what you look like, Orlando Carnival offers spaces for anyone to come along and have an extraordinary, entertaining and of course, fun experience. The city thrills with the varied programming of live concerts and parties happening continuously in the streets. Parades encourage thousands to take to the streets and party in incredible costumes and the J’ouvert invites you to live a true Caribbean carnival experience in the city of Orlando..

We invite you to be part of one of the events with the longest trajectory in the streets of the city of Orlando and enjoy the diverse elements that the Caribbean culture has to offer through food, dance and the incredible colorful parades that move thousands of people every year.

 

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When is the Orlando Carnival?

Orlando Carnival has a fixed date, as it is celebrated on Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a United States commemorative date, which was established to commemorate the soldiers who died in the American Civil War after World War I. The date of the Memorial Day is a day of remembrance in the United States.

Ethe Orlando Carnival or Orlando Carnival Downtown will be held from approximately May 27 to May 31.

 

 

History of Orlando Carnivals

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Carnival is one of the most popular celebrations around the world, but it is not known exactly when and where exactly they originated. It is believed that the first carnivals were originated in Ancient Rome and paid homage to their gods. The celebration of the carnival was spreading throughout Central Europe, strongly permeating the identity of each nation and society that made up each of these countries.

As expected, it was only a matter of time before carnivals reached the rest of the European countries. Carnivals were festivals in which people were free to eat in large quantities before the fasting times. Over time, the festivities intensified and became more and more a big event where people could perform certain actions considered unethical.

Carnivals functioned as an escape valve from everyday life. People celebrated the carnival to detach themselves from everyday life and the problems it brought to the population. Thus, masks and disguises began to be created so that people could become whatever they wanted. The masks and costumes were a kind of skin that allowed people to transform themselves and do things that are normally frowned upon in society. Over time, the use of masks was a vehicle for committing crimes and highly immoral actions.

The celebration of carnivals was frowned upon, both by religion and the authorities that ruled the nations. The carnival was considered immoral and savage, so it had periods of censorship fuete even until the twentieth century. Despite being censored and banned on many occasions and in several countries, the people managed to continue celebrating the festivities, until they were more or less tolerated, only with some conditions. At some point in history, the church gave its arm to twist and tolerated the civilized festivities, for the carnivals began to be celebrated before Lent, taking as a reference the religious calendar.

During the process of colonization of America and the Caribbean, carnival was one of the traditions imposed by Europeans, being celebrated at first exclusively by whites. Over time, the carnival developed a unique syncretism that integrated European celebrations by the colonists, African traits of the slaves and traditions of the Creoles. Once slavery was abolished and the independence of the lands, the carnivals began to be the festivities of all, being celebrated by the bulk of the population, but still with certain differences in social classes.

Carnivals were deeply rooted especially in the Caribbean, being celebrated with defined identity features, including traditions, dances and music. With the migration of islanders, the traditional Caribbean carnival was imported to other nations, reflecting the culture and traditions of each of the countries. Today, the Caribbean carnivals are one of the most reproduced events in the world as a vehicle of expression for Caribbean communities.

The Orlando Carnival or Orlando Carnival Downtown began to be held in the city more than 30 years ago with the objective of providing spaces for the Caribbean community and allowing the preservation and development of its traditions. Thus, the carnival extends for several days to contemplate a schedule with elements such as musical concerts, presentation of metal drum bands, parades and food fairs both to entertain and develop the Caribbean identity.

 

Where is Orlando Carnival

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The Carnival takes place on Church Street between Camping World Stadium and the Amway Arena, Orlando, in the southeastern United States.

The city of Orlando spans some 261.5 square miles (261.5 square kilometers) where about 280,000 people live.

 

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How Orlando Carnival is celebrated

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The Orlando Carnival is one of the largest cultural spectacles in the city, featuring live performances, food and a Mas Bands parade through the streets of the city. In addition, the event has featured various artists extremely well-known in the industry such as Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Farmer Nappy, Motto, King Bubba, Ravi B and many other artists who are involved in the Caribbean rhythms industry. Carnaval Orlando has various components that make it a particular celebration.

 

Carnival Cultural Village

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The Carnival Cultural Village is an enclosed area featuring Caribbean food, arts, crafts and music. Inside the venue there are two stages, the main stage with live performances and the fire stage featuring Orlando’s popular DJ’s. The Carnival Cultural Village is the heart of the festivities, as it functions as the epicenter for people to gather and enjoy all the entertainment that the organization has available.

 

Bandas Mas

Bandas Mas are one of the most important components in the carnival festivities. These bands are groupings or companies that design a fantastic entertainment service package that includes a colorful, filled with feathers and crystals that people join in carnival parades. The Orlando Carnival Downtown consists of 12 official bands which offer various costumes with various themes, colors and outfits, for both men and women.

The entire parade is accompanied by musical bands, people wearing large zancos, dance groups, music trucks and lots of live entertainment happening.

Panorama

Panorama is a celebration seen regularly in several Caribbean countries and at Caribbean carnivals in various parts of the world. This event is a large contest held during the carnival season that features the participation of metal drum bands. These bands compete against each other through cultural demonstrations and various repertoires of musical pieces to obtain the title of winner. Usually, the event features local groups, but various international bands also come to participate in the event.

 

J’ouvert

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The J’ouvert is one of the most characteristic celebrations of the Caribbean carnival. Generally the event occurs well early in the early morning until dawn; however, in some localities they are held from the night before until the early morning or during the day so as not to disturb the rest of the population with the commotion. The event is a clear manifestation of Caribbean identity, since it is one of the first celebrations after the abolition of slavery.

During the event, people make water wars, mud, talcum powder and paint, making it an event full of excitement and dirt. In addition, the whole event features musical bands that liven up the J’ouvert. Some people wear traditional costumes of the event, which feature chains and skulls; however, common factor is to wear simple and comfortable clothes that allow you to party fully.

 

Tips for going to Orlando Carnivals

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If you want to attend the Orlando Carnival Downtown, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making a travel itinerary and booking your preferred accommodations in advance. Don’t forget to pack comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty so you can fully enjoy the carnivals and the J’ouvert.

If you have the possibility, it is a good idea to purchase the Bandas Mas service package, since you will be able to experience the carnival in all its splendor. In addition, the packages usually include entertainment and drinks.

Orlando Carnival also offers some VIP tickets which offer additional seating, access to the VIP area, tables, food, drinks and a bottle of vodka, rum or wine. Remember that these are promotions that come and go quickly, so we encourage you to purchase them if you have the opportunity.

If you live outside the United States, make sure you have the proper permits to enter the country.

 

Events at Orlando Carnival

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Orlando Carnival contemplates a good amount of events from start to finish. The entire celebration occupies traditional Caribbean carnival events for you to have a complete and traditional experience. The Orlando Carnivals are composed of the following events for the enjoyment of all the public:

 

Panorama

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Venue: Caribbean Cultural Village

 

Concerts

Venue: Caribbean Cultural Village

 

J’ouvert

Venue: Church Street

 

Parade

Place: Church Street

 

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Orlando Carnival Parades

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The Orlando Carnival Parade is a real spectacle on the street. Hundreds of people take to the streets a true street show full of colors and in a total fun atmosphere. The streets are filled with people wearing their Bandas Mas outfits, completely covered in feathers and glitter. People strut back and forth dancing to distinctive Caribbean rhythms such as the Soca and Calypso.

 

Throughout the event there is never a lack of big music trucks with speakers that rock the whole city with their catchy rhythms. People take to the streets with flags from various Caribbean countries to commemorate their roots. Likewise, drinks, cocktails and silbatos also make an appearance in the parade.

At the end of the parade, concerts are held during the night at the carnival fairgrounds. During the event a good number of artists perform and the whole park goes into commotion. The place is completely packed with people to dance and party all together.

 

Parade route

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The parade begins at 12 p.m. on Church Street between Camping World Stadium and Amway Arena. The entire parade is approximately 2 miles ending when the bands cross the stage inside the Carnival Cultural Village or Carnival Culture Village.

 

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What to eat at Orlando Carnival

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Orlando Carnival offers you a complete experience, both in entertainment and traditional Caribbean food. In the Carnival Cultural Village there are several stalls and areas where you can get various dishes of traditional Caribbean food, you just need to walk around the grounds and decide what you want to try.

One of the favorite and best-known drinks or cocktails throughout the Caribbean is the Rum Punch. Rum Punch is possibly one of the most typical Caribbean drinks and you can find it in several of the islands that make up the Caribbean. The drink has become so popular that today it represents one of the flagship drinks of universal cocktails. Rum Punch is made with orange juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, equal parts of white and dark rum and some grenadine. Some people are more daring and mix it with red fruits or other types of citrus.

Another of the classic Caribbean dishes is the Jerk Chicken. The dish cannot be missed in any Caribbean festival or carnival, neither in the Caribbean nor in any other city in the world. Jerk Chicken is a rotisserie chicken that has been previously seasoned with fresh herbs, spices and pepper. The result is a rotisserie chicken with caramelized skin and an intense grilled flavor that pleases everyone who tries it.

In addition, the city also offers you a lot of restaurants and places that you can visit during your stay to know everything that Orlando has to offer. Some of the most famous eateries include La Luce, Bull & Bear Steakhouse at Waldorf Astoria Orlando, Seito Sushi, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine – Dr Phillips, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Ocean Prime, Spencer’s for Steak and Chops, Shula’s Steak House, Kres Chophouse and Victoria & Albert’s.

 

 

What to see and do inside Orlando Carnival

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The Orlando Caribbean Carnival is a great event whose purpose is to preserve and develop the identity traits of the Caribbean population in the city. Once you’re there, you’ll realize that the event is all about getting in touch with the diverse cultural elements of the Caribbean, so you’ll find live music, especially metal drum bands, renowned Caribbean singers and the incredible food with great flavor and seasoning.

You shouldn’t miss either the J’ouvert or the parade, both of which are the heart and soul of the festivities. At the J’ouvert you can parade the streets with great excitement, accompanied by live music and get down and dirty with friends, acquaintances and strangers with mud, paint and talcum powder. At the parade you can walk the streets wearing an incredible colorful outfit, covered in feathers and glitter and dance to the rhythm of traditional Caribbean music.

 

What to see and do outside of Carnivals Orlando

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Kennedy Space Center

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This is one of 10 National Aeronautics and Space Administration centers. If you’re into the whole space theme, it’s definitely a must-see in the city. The center doesn’t have big attractions like the parks, but it does have quite a bit of space documentation, audiovisuals and rockets.

 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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It is one of the most famous attractions in the whole city. It is a theme park with a zoo that is part of the Walt Disney World Resort. The whole enclosure is spread over 230 hectares and has thematic areas such as Asia, Africa, Pandora: The World of Avatar, Discovery Island and DinoLand U.S.A.

 

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

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It is a theme park that is part of the large complete Universal Orlando Resort. The attraction began operations in 199 and has attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon and Marvel Super Hero Island. In addition, it also has various stores, restaurants and other entertainment areas.

Weather at Orlando Carnival

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During Orlando Carnival, the city boasts somewhat hot weather, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 31 degrees Celsius. Be sure to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen frequently.

 

 

How to get to Orlando Carnival Carnivals

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The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport, which receives a good number of flights from all over the world. Once you are there, you can make use of the various means of transportation to get to the center of the city.

 

How to get there by train

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The city has four Amtrak stations that allow you to arrive from cities such as Washington, New York or various parts of Florida.

 

How to get there by bus

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From the airport you can take a bus company Lync Central Florida Transport to downtown. The total journey time is 30 minutes.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you can take a car and transfer along Semoran Boulevard and FL-408 W.

If you take a cab the taxi fare ranges between 35 and 45 US dollars.