When is Orlando Carnival?
Orlando Carnival Downtown takes place over Memorial weekend! The dates for the 2021 Orlando Carnival will be Thursday 27th May 2021 – Monday 31 May 2021. The Orlando Carnival Parade will take place on Sunday 30th May 2021.
What is carnival in Orlando?
Orlando has its very own Caribbean Carnival celebration! In 2019 they will be celebrating the 32nd Annual Orlando Downtown Carnival and everyone is welcome to join the fun! It is all about celebrating and embracing Caribbean culture. Orlando Carnival is a family-friendly carnival that is a weekend filled with parties and pageantry.
For 32 year Orlando Carnival has presented, preserved and promoted a deeper appreciation and understanding for Caribbean culture. This is done through carnival and representing what is truly Caribbean through Caribbean dance, music, masquerades, costumes and Caribbean cuisine.
The Orlando Carnival embraces multiculturalism, in fact Orlando Carnival has been known to attract the largest congregation of both culturally diverse participants and attendees including Americans, Indo-Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic-Caribbean and Asian-Caribbean. Over 20,000 people participate in carnival with thousands more in attendance.
Where is Orlando Carnival?
Orlando Carnival will occur at:
Address: Tinker and McCracken Fields Camping World Stadium Orlando Florida, 1 Citrus Bowl Place, Orlando, Florida 32805.
You can check out some accommodation options here.
What is the history of Orlando Carnival?
Founded in 1986, The Central Florida West Indian American Carnival Association had a vision, that would bring a Caribbean carnival to Central Florida. It held its first pre-carnival in 1987 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The association calls “carnival is indeed the labor of love”, and it is because of the dedication and passion of this association to keep Caribbean culture alive, the carnival has been celebrated for 31 years.
How do they celebrate Orlando Carnival
The Orlando Carnival has been infusing the joys of Caribbean culture and music into Orlando for more than three decades. Orlando Carnival Downtown is a family-friendly carnival that everyone can enjoy! Visiting Orlando Carnival is a wonderful cultural experience.
Orlando Carnival brings pageantry, parties and parades. You can enjoy authentic Caribbean food and drinks. Listen to authentic Caribbean music from steelpan bands, soca, reggae and calypso artists. Or you can shop all the street vendors selling authentic Caribbean arts and crafts.
Of course the highlight of Orlando Carnival is the costumed masquerade parade filled with the mot stunning and elaborate costumes. There are loads of parties surrounding carnival from the Breakfast Fete to J’ouvert.
Orlando Carnival is all about celebrating with the American-Caribbean community. So many Caribbean Countries and islands are represented during carnival including Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Barbados, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Belize, Cuba, St Kitts, Bahamas, Grenada, Cuba and so many others.
Orlando Carnival Mas Parade
What is a Mas Band? Mas Bands are organisations who pay for the same costumes which are all created by the same costume designer.
The costumed participants parade and dance together through the streets along with steelpan bands, soca musicians or even a DJ. This is what is known as playing mas.
Thousands compete and watch the parade. It is a colorful, vibrant and energetic spectacle. The masquerades are dressed in the most colorful costumes that are adorned with feathers, jewels, headdresses and wings. The soca pumps loud and everyone dances the day away.
Orlando Carnival Mas Bands
Can I be a part of the Orlando Carnival? The answer is yes of course you can! Absolutely anyone can be part of the parade, you don’t have to be Caribbean to join in the fun. One of the best ways to enjoy Orlando Carnival is to join in and play mas!
There are several carnival bands that you can take part in and each offer their own unique Orlando Carnival experience. All you have to do is pick a mas band, buy a costume and march with your band on the day.
The Orlando Carnival Mas Bands are:
- Fete Massterz:Contact Bandleaders Kyla & Jessica on 407-432-7064 fetemassterz@gmail.com
- Lituation Mas: Contact Bandleader Andrea Julceus on 321-460-974 andreajulceus@gmail.com
- La Pasion Carnival Band: contact bandleader Woody Woodside on 407-580-1895 devaughanwoodside@gmail.com
- Backyard Mas LLC: contact bandleader Karma K. Siewharack on 718-772-6329 backyardmas@gmail.com
- Highlandder Mas: contact bandleader Victor Daniel & Barbara Daniel on 646-387-1850 / 917-561-6146 bwatson59@live.com
- Unruly Nation: contact bandleader Vida Edward on 321-594-3720 vedward2@gmail.com
- Sound Quest Band:contact bandleaders Kyemba Connor & Afirno Marten 407-952-8840 / 229-944-0877 sexykaye79@gmail.com
- Carnival Fantasy:contact bandleader Danielle at firstlady0723@gmail.com
- Masfeters:contact Khayyam Hosein on 470-492-9978 caribbeanhut@hotmail.com
- Unruly Mas Band: contact Marlon, Shalena or Bernell on 407-917-7895 unrulymasband@gmail.com
- Carnival krew: contact bandleader Tessa Downes on 407-234-2231 carnivalkrew@gmail.com
- Andy’s Krazy Krew: contact bandleader Andy on 407-739-4425 andyplaza26@gmail.com
Where do I purchase tickets to Orlando?
You can look at the official website which has information about tickets and packages here. For tickets to some of the fetes and parties that surround Orland Carnival, they can be purchased from here.
How to get to Orlando?
Over 50 million people visit Orlando annually. So you should have no problem getting there by plane, train, bus or car, depending on where you are coming from. The city’s major airport Orlando International Airport, services many major airlines and has a very high flight availability. Alternatively there is also a much smaller airport Orlando Sanford International Airport.
Where to stay in Orlando?
There are so many choice in Orlando. One good option is International Drive or I-Drive as it is known locally. This place is often called the Vegas Strip of Orlando because there are hundreds of hotels, shops, restaurants and other attractions that all sit right beside each other and run for eleven miles. There is also a free I-Ride bus service if you don’t have a car that runs from 8am until 10:30pm at night.
What to do and see in Orlando?
There is so much to do and see in Orlando of course the biggest draw card that Orlando has is its theme parks. Orlando is home to Walt Disney World which has the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and so much more.
It is also has Universal Orlando Resort which is home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Florida Universal Studio, Universal Islands of Adventure and more. There is also LEGOLAND Resort, Sea world and more. Besides the theme parks and water parks, Orlando offers prime shopping, dining and ecotourism.
For more information about tours, things to do, sightseeing tours, day trips and more click here.
Before you go!
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