BAJAN FUH EVAH
What to Expect During Carnival
Loud music from different bands, people dancing to calypso, soca, reggae and dub rhythms from roadside sound systems and food from many different cultures. Meeting people from different cultures and learning new experiences every time. Just remember this is a party for everyone.
If you play with a band your experience will be astonishing. I attended Miami Carnival for 2022and played Mas with Bajan Fuh Evah in the section Yemoya (Queen of the Sea) and it was not what I was expecting; it rained so hard that day and my costume fell apart in the rain. But I enjoyed dancing in the rain and remember that in life you think you have control, but you really don’t and just let life be.
You must bring an open mind as many different people have different cultures depending on the island. You must wear comfortable shoes -going as a bystander most women will wear shorts or a romper (comfortable clothing) because you plan to wuk up or walk around. Skirts are welcome too just remember to protect your lady parts. Bring an umbrella this is for the sun and rain.
Costume Fitting
Getting your costume, the week of carnival can be hard because now you must make sure that your costume fits to your standards; customs are not made to your exact measurements so, be sure to try on your entire costume in advance. Please note that these costumes are not cheap. On the road you will be jumping, wining, walking and so much more for hours in the hot sun and/or rain.
Protect Your Skin… Sunscreen Lotion is your Best Friend
Your skin will burn in the hot sun it doesn’t matter if you are white, green, purple, or brown (you will thank me later). I know black people state that “black don’t crack” but it does sink and is still able to catch skin cancer. Lather on sunscreen before putting on your costume and spray on an extra for good measure after you’ve geared up.
Sunscreens For The Road
Caribbean Carnival Destinations and Dates
- Anguilla — Anguilla Summer Festival, early August
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Antigua — Antigua Carnival, early August
- Barbuda — Caribana, early June
- Aruba — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Barbados — Crop Over, late July early August
- Bahamas – Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, first week of May
- Belize — Carnival, September
- Bermuda — Bermuda Carnival (third weekend in June)
- Bonaire — Carnival, February Ash Wednesday
- British Virgin Islands
- Tortola — BVI Emancipation (August) Festival, early August
- Virgin Gorda — Virgin Gorda Easter Festival Celebrations, late March/early April
- Cayman Islands — Batabano, late April/early May
- Cuba
- Cuba — Carnival of Santiago de Cuba, July
- Cuba — Havana Carnival, July/August
- Curaçao — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Dominica — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Dominican Republic — Dominican Carnival, February
- French Guiana — takes place between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, ending on Mardi Gras.
- Grenada
- Carriacou — Carriacou Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Grenada — Spicemas, early August
- Guadeloupe — Carnaval – February, Ash Wednesday
- Guyana — Mashramani (Mash), February 23, Guyanese Republic Day
- Guyana — Guyana Carnival, Mid-May
- Haiti — Kanaval, February, Ash Wednesday
- Jamaica — Bacchanal, late March/early April
- Martinique — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Montserrat — Montserrat Festival, mid-December to early January
- Puerto Rico — Carnaval de Ponce, February, Ash Wednesday
- Saba — Saba Summer Festival, late July/early August
- Saint Barthélemy — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Saint Lucia — Carnival, July
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Kitts — Carnival, December/January
- Nevis — Culturama, late July/early August
- Saint-Martin — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — Vincy Mas, late June/early July
- Saint Eustatius — Statia Carnival, late July/early August
- Sint Maarten — Carnival, late April/early May
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad — Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Tobago — Tobago Carnival, February, Ash Wednesday
- Turks and Caicos Islands — Junkanoo Jump Up, in January
- United States Virgin Islands
- Saint Croix — Crucian Carnival, late December/early January Three King’s Day
- Saint John — St. John Festival, June through July 3 & 4, V.I. Emancipation Day and U.S. Independence Day
- Saint Thomas — V.I. Carnival, April through early May
- Saba, Dutch Caribbean – carnival, late July to August.
Honorable Mentions
- Atlanta Carnival Atlanta, Georgia — Last weekend in May, usually falls on Memorial Day weekend
- Canada
- Toronto — Caribana Toronto Caribbean Carnival (early August)
- London — Notting Hill Carnival, in Ladbroke Grove, West London
- Miami Broward Caribbean Carnival Miami, FL — the second weekend in October, Columbus Day weekend.
