Discover Trinidad & Tobago Travel Guide 2019 (issue #30)

Carnival
Roundtable
maria
Photographer & Cultural Activist
Arts &
Roundtable
Carnival is so multi-faceted — it is experienced in so many ways, and means such different
things to different people. Many limit their experience to just the party element, but there’s so
much more to Carnival. For me, it is about an indescribable energy, a spirit that’s somehow in our
DNA. The heart and soul of Carnival come to their fullest expression in the street on Carnival
Monday and Tuesday. Taking over the street is an essential part of the experience. You get to release
so much through the music, through the rituals. If you’re willing to really let go, it’s truly
cathartic.
The perfect itinerary
More foodie favou
Roundtable
There is so much to experience in such a short amount
of time. The intensity ramps up two weeks before Carnival with
Panorama semis. The atmosphere on what we call the drag or
the track, where the bands practise and play their final warm
up before they go on stage, is such a wonderful way to get
close to the pans and the players. It’s special. The Wednesday
after pan semis, head to the St James Amphitheatre for the
Traditional Mas competition. It’s free and it’s a great event for
children. I’d recommend going to the stickfighting preliminaries,
which take place in locations like Moruga.
The week before Carnival:
The Old Yard: UWI
Creative Arts, St Augustine
(two Sundays before
Carnival)
Traditional Mas
Competition: Woodbrook
(Wednesday)
Stickfighting Finals
Kambule Riots
re-enactment (or
Canboulay): Piccadilly
Greens (Carnival Friday)
Dragon Festival: Port of
Spain (Carnival Friday)
Junior Carnival Parade:
Port of Spain (Carnival
Saturday)
Blue Devil Competition:
Paramin (Carnival
Monday).
chad lue loy
Stickfighting
38
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