Trinidad & Tobago - A Celebration of Festivals - Trinidad and Tobago

Tobago FestTob a g o ’s v e r y o w n C a r n i va lLate September29It’s late September and not a Carnivalin sight until the pre-Lenten “motherof all festivals” in Trinidad the followingFebruary or March. Antigua’s, Grenada’s,Jamaica’s, Toronto’s, Notting Hill’s, andeven Brooklyn’s Labour Day - all versionsof Trinidad style Carnivals - have passed.So, a few years ago two resourcefulTobago Mas’ enthusiasts invited theNational Carnival Bands Association ofTrinidad and Tobago (NCBA) to assistin producing a Trini style Carnival on thesister isle within the low visitor period oflate September. With the support of TheTobago House of Assembly, though it isjust a few years old, already the TobagoFest is taking off with its own Carnivalseason.Queen show, fetes, calypso, chill-out, nightmas, a parade of the bands and j’ouvertare packed into a longish weekend -who minds if it spills over to a workday? -in Tobago venues that are never far fromthe sea. For good measure, you might alsobump into a Bum Boat Festival!A unique feature of Tobago Fest is theTraditional Mas which features FancySailors, Beasts and Imps, Authentic andFancy Indians, Jab Jabs and many morewho contribute to the Fest and bring alivethe cultural portrayals of yesteryear.Airline tickets and accommodation areeasier to come by in the coolest Carnivalon the calendar. We don’t expect it to betoo long before the Tobago Fest stars onas many holiday calendars as the others.In the meantime, as they say, get in onthe ground floor. Enjoy the unclutteredbeginnings of a festival in the making!Where and when:Take advantage of low season airfares andhotel rates to plan your holiday in Tobagoin late September.Your bonus package will certainlyinclude the Carnival fetes, parades andcompetitions. Contact TDC (868-675-7034 to 7) or the NCBA (868 627 8323)for more information. www.visittnt.comFestivals of Trinidad & Tobago\ Index View Print Exit /