The Greatest Show on Earth
An explosion of color, music, revelry, and creativity, Trinidad's Carnival has spawned similar celebrations around the world from Miami to London
However nothing on earth can rival the abandon, euphoria and stunning spectacle of Trinidad's festival.
With its massive masquerade bands, spectacular costumes, pulsating music and unparalleled stamina for partying, Trinidad's Carnival is often described as the greatest show on earth.
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar...
with numerous cultural events running in the lead up to the street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
It is said that if the islanders are not celebrating it, then they are preparing for it, while reminiscing about the past year's festival. The heart of the musical celebration has been calypso; recently soca has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music. Costumes, stickfighting and limbo competitions are also important components of the festival.
Pre-Carnival Celebrations
Officially Carnival is the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday but celebrations begin right after Christmas.
From Boxing Day it is non-stop partying until Carnival Sunday.
It is during this post Christmas period that calypso tents open their doors to the public and cultural shows, from Limbo competitions to massive soca concerts, begin.
Radio stations begin to play the latest soca hits and many masquerade bands launch their new themes.
Steelbands begin intense preparations for Panorama, the annual competition for steel pan bands. Preliminary contests are hosted at panyards throughout the country during the six weeks leading up to Carnival.
Panorama finals are the ultimate test of musical skill. Representing the best of the best, selected bands compete before judges and thousands of spectators the Saturday night before Carnival officially begins
Forty-nine steel orchestras -- 16 larger bands, 15 medium bands and 18 small bands -took part in the semifinals Feb. 4. The finals of the competition will be held on Carnival Saturday, February 18. The prize is $2M as well as bragging rights for a year.
