Festivals in Trinidad and Tobago

Discover traditional festivals and celebrations of this country

Americas / Caribbean

Festivals

Trinidad Carnival

Season or date: Monday and Tuesday before Lent (February-March)

One of the world's three major carnivals. Entire city goes wild with dazzling mas, steelpan, and soca.

Panorama

Season or date: Saturday before Carnival

World's largest steelpan competition featuring national steelbands.

Tobago Heritage Festival

Season or date: Late July to early August

Culturally rich week recreating ancestral life throughout Tobago locations.

Indian Arrival Day

Season or date: May 30

Commemorates arrival of Indian indentured laborers in 1845 with dance and curry cuisine.

Emancipation Day

Season or date: August 1

Grand march celebrating African cultural emancipation.

Great Race (Powerboat)

Season or date: Third Saturday of August

Thrilling marine race with speedboats dashing between Trinidad and Tobago.

Divali

Season or date: October-November (Hindu calendar)

Festival of lights illuminating darkness with lamps and fireworks. Traditional sweets and vegetarian dishes are served.

Eid-ul-Fitr

Season or date: Shawwal 1 (Islamic calendar)

Celebration of end of Ramadan with prayer and feast.

Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day

Season or date: March 30

Festival celebrating freedom of unique Baptist faith with prayer and gospel music.

Blue Food Festival

Season or date: October (Tobago)

Unique gourmet fair featuring dasheen as star ingredient.

Christmas Parang Season

Season or date: November-December

Traditional event of going house to house singing Spanish-Caribbean music 'parang.'

Angostura Rum Festival

Season or date: October

Rum and cocktail event hosted by world-renowned bitters maker.

Jazz Artists on the Greens

Season or date: March

Authentic Caribbean jazz festival on outdoor lawn stage.

Labour Day Rally

Season or date: June 19

Parade and cultural performances advocating workers' rights.

Corpus Christi Procession

Season or date: Movable feast

Solemn procession where Catholics carry Eucharist through streets.

Public holidays

  • New Year's Day
  • Carnival
  • Good Friday
  • Easter
  • Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day
  • Indian Arrival Day
  • Labour Day
  • Emancipation Day
  • Independence Day
  • Republic Day
  • Eid-ul-Fitr
  • Divali
  • Christmas
  • Boxing Day

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