Which is the best Carnival in the Caribbean?

by Mantius "Mr Mash Up" Cazaubon, the Soca Freak
(Soufriere, Saint Lucia)

Which is the best carnival in the Caribbean? State your views below. Clearly, Trinidad and Tobago has the largest Caribbean island Carnival, but is it the best? How does it compare to Vincy Mas or even St Lucia carnival, Grenada carnival, Antigua carnival, Dominica carnival, Guyana carnival, carnival in the Virgin Islands and Barbados Cropover? Bigger doesn't always mean better. Right? I'm sort of playing Devil's advocate here.

How about other Caribbean carnivals around the world. Some of the bigger ones are Labor Day in New York, Miami Carnival, Caribana in Canada and Nottinghill Carnival in London. Can they match the celebration of carnival in the Caribbean islands?

To digress a little. Brazil with a population of over 190 million has one of the most popular carnivals in the world. Can a Caribbean carnival come anywhere close to Brazil carnival?

There are several factors that make a good carnival. These include quality of music, costumes, artistry and participation of the masses. In my mind, the number of tourists that come to a carnival is a good indicator of how good it is.

Okay, back to our question. Tell me which is the best carnival in the Caribbean and why you say so. As a Caribbean person, why should a tourist choose your carnival over another?

This should get pretty exciting. Let's hear your take.

Comments for Which is the best Carnival in the Caribbean?

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Oct 03, 2010
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Best carnival in the Caribbean - Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
by: Trinigal

By far, Trinidad carnival leads the way. As a matter of fact most of the other Carnivals simply follow the pace set by T & T carnival. I don't see how any Carnival in the small islands can compare.

Oct 03, 2010
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Don't forget Aruba
by: Marle

Don't forget Aruba,the island is packed with tourists during carnival, they make some pretty costumes here and we have a lot of fun, but for me; one carnival in Trinidad and you are spoiled for the rest of your live.

Oct 03, 2010
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the best carnival
by: Anonymous

GRENADA the wicked yab yab straight

Oct 04, 2010
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ST.VINCENT HOTT _WE
by: EMZZY

ST.VINCENT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY LEADER AND ALL OTHERS HAVEFO COM FALLOW WE.

Oct 04, 2010
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THE BEST CARNIVAL
by: Anonymous

Has anyone noticed that those who commented above said that their island has the best carnival? How could we have a serious and truthful discussion if we are not honest with ourselves? This type of insularity does no one any good and all of us suffer as a result. Everyone is for him or herself .... and forget everyone else!

I am VINCY, but despite the excellent quality of our carnival, I will not blindly declare that our carnival is the best! I live in Orlando, and Miami has its carnival this weekend, but I will not say that ours is the best. I lived in New York for over twenty years but again I will not say that Labour Day in Brooklyn is the best carnival.

I have traveled throughout the Carribbean and seen their carnivals, but I have a strong feeling that those who say that their island has the best carnival, have never travelled outside of their country. This a problem we have to overcome. In fact, it is a feeling of inadequacy and an inferiority complex that makes us want to always feel that we are the best, or that we have the best carnival.

Everyone cannot be the best, and we have to recognize that. If someone else has the best carnival, what is wrong with simply admitting that fact? No wonder we cannot even pick a West Indian cricket team! Everyone is only looking out for themselves. I call that selfishness and ignorance.

I believe that Trini has the BEST carnival, but I must give Brazil (RIO) kudos for their effort. Theirs is the biggest.

England, Toronto and Brooklyn have good carnivals as well, and they must be applauded. VINCY has a great carnival, but they have to play second fiddle to Trini though.

Oct 05, 2010
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Mrs or Mr vincy 4 october
by: Marle

Please, read me again, (2nd comment) I said that Trinidad Carnival is the best, and I am not from there, I only know Carnival from Aruba and St. Martin, T&T are not my islands. Please keep this discussion alive without getting sentimental. People get patriotic that is to be expected but still this discussion is very interesting. It gives all of us an inside view of what the people living on the islands feel or perceive. All of we is one, or not?

Oct 10, 2010
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st.vincent and the grenadines
by: sonia

the best canival in the caribbeanis st.incent and the grenadines

Oct 10, 2010
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The Best Carnival in the Caribbean
by: Anonymous

Hi MARLE,

I apologize to you if I sounded as though I was referring to you in my comments about insularity in the Caribbean. I was speaking about THE OTHER writers who were claiming that their carnival in their country was the best. I was not including you in those comments because that is NOT what you were doing!

Like you, I believe that "All ah we is one!" That is exactly why we should not "big up" our own country falsely claiming that we all have the best carnival, when we know that our own carnival is not as good as our neighbour's.

It is good to be PATRIOTIC, but when we are asked a straight question, shouldn't we be honest enough to give an honest answer?

Oct 11, 2010
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Best Carnival in the Caribbean
by: Roger Charles (Moderator)

Good contributions so far. It's nice hearing all your points of view. This page can be a great resource for someone looking to attend a Caribbean carnival.

Oct 15, 2010
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CANADA CARNIVAL?????? -- CAribana
by: Anonymous

Hey I always here of Trinidad Carnival and also believe it is the Standard that all others follow.
Check Canada's Carnival which we call CARIBANA
www.banatim.blogspot.com rel good song for it too "Bana Time"

Dec 11, 2010
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trini
by: Anonymous

I have been to other carnivals but this trini has to say trinidad is still the best by far. They were all good fun but carnival that is trinidad and tobago, staring with the band launchings the previous august and climaxing on ash Wednesday at the beach. There's nothing like it anywhere. Rio does have a close second but its different, not as all inclusive. The kids, pagents, king and queen of the bands, int'l soca monarch, dimarche gras, fete fete and more fete, that Monday and Tuesday parade. I can go on and on....

Mar 26, 2011
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vincy mass
by: derrol

vincy carnival is one of the best,

Aug 01, 2011
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been to most carnivals
by: Anonymous

my ranking:

1 trinidad
2 st vincent
3 barbados
4 grenada
5 st lucia

out side of caribbean

1 rio- brazil
2 caribanna- canada
3 labour day- new york
4 nottinghill- uk

Feb 24, 2012
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ARUBA! (^_^)
by: Anonymous

Because of the sweet live music there!! No rythym box just plain live! And not to forget the beautifull costumes!

Mar 15, 2012
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My thoughts =))
by: joel

I am from Grenada and to be honest Grenada's carnival is awesome but has fell in standard over the years and we are now starting to see a gradual recovery of it recently. The only other carnival I've been to outside Grenada is NY's Labor day and IMO it's very boring, nothing compared to the islands. Too much violence and restrictions, not a breeding ground for unity at all. I personally believe, although never experienced it physically...that Trinidad's carnival is the best. From what I see on tv and from what I hear from their music, it's top notch. They set a trend basically for the other islands to follow, so IMO they take the crown for the best.

Jul 31, 2012
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MY OPINION
by: Anonymous

St.Lucia nd Trinidad

Mar 17, 2013
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best carnival
by: Anonymous

I currently live in Barbados and we have a great carnival here, i've experienced carnival in other countries as well such as vincy mas, ny, Trinidad and Tobago and St kitts. i believe and i want to put emphasis on that; that Trinidad and Tobago has the best mostly because of the amount of pre- and post carnival activities and the artistes, music and costumes are to die for!!!

May 25, 2013
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Caribbean Carnival
by: Love my Caribbean Carnivals

All of the Caribbean Carnival is the best. There is none out there that is better. Big up to each Caribbean Island. We are one Unity and One Family.

May 30, 2013
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H
by: Anonymous

there are other countries in the Caribbean that big carnivals.u forgot to mention Haiti and many others. just saying.

Oct 14, 2014
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#1 Brazil.
by: Anonymous

Trinidad carnival is at best #3. maybe tied with Panama Carnival. by far #1 carnival has to be Brazil. Where it all started.

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