My first official Caribbean carnival was in the USA at the West Indian Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn, New York. In fact, my first five carnival experiences were on Eastern Parkway – VIVID memories of when my Trini friends/college mates introduced me to carnival for the very first time. Many Caribbean people migrate to the United States for various reasons (me being one of them) and I wanted to share where in the diaspora, Caribbean culture is being kept alive.
Caribbean Carnivals In The USA
In my opinion, I love US based Caribbean Carnivals. I think it’s a combination of strong spirited Caribbean and non Caribbean people who love their heritage and want everyone from all walks of life to experience it. Caribbean people are warm, welcoming and if you don’t know a lick of soca/calypso, have never had a bite of Caribbean food or never visited the Caribbean – they are the FIRST ones to share it with you. Here’s a few Caribbean Carnivals in The USA if you want a taste of the culture.
Arizona CaribFest (TBA for 2024)
- City: Phoenix, AZ
- airport code: PHX
- Road March: TBD
- Official website and Instagram page
Tampa Bay Carnival (Saturday April 20th & April 21st, 2024)
- City: Tampa, FL
- airport code TPA
- Road March: April 20th
- Jouvert: April 21st
- Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival website and Instagram Page
Atlanta Carnival (Saturday May 25th, 2024)
- City: Atlanta, GA
- airport code ATL
- Official Atlanta Carnival website and Instagram page
- Atlanta Carnival Review
For more information, follow creators like The Curve Experience and RebelMas.
Orlando Carnival (May 24th-27th, 2024)
- City: Orlando, FL
- airport code MCO
- Orlando Carnival Instagram and Event page
Arizona Caribbean Carnival (TBA)
- City: Phoenix, Arizona
- airport code: PHX
- Official website and Instagram
South Carolina Carnival (June 6th-9th,2024)
- City: Columbia, South Carolina
- Parade date: TBA
- airport code CAE
- South Carolina Carnival website and Instagram page
Hookie Weekend DC (June 13th-17th, 2024)
- City: Washington, DC
- airport code DCA
- Official Hookie website and Instagram page
- Hookie Weekend DC Review
Hookie Weekend is not the original DC carnival but they are “an organization dedicated to the preservation of West Indian culture in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond.” – HookieLife.com
Philadelphia “Philly” Carnival (June 15th, 2024)
- City: Philadelphia, PA
- airport code: PHL
- Road March: Saturday June 15th, 2024
- Official website and Facebook page
Hollywood Carnival (June 20th-23rd, 2024)
- City: Los Angeles, California
- airport code LAX
- Road Parade: June 22nd,2024
- Instagram Page
- Hollywood Carnival Review
Charlotte Caribbean Carnival (June 27th-30th, 2024)
- City: Charlotte, NC
- airport code CLT
- Road Parade: TBA
- Instagram Page and official website
New Orleans Caribbean Carnival (TBA)
- City: New Orleans, Louisiana
- airport code MSY
- Instagram Page
Houston Carnival (July 4-July 7th, 2024)
- City: Houston, TX
- Road Parade: July 7th, 2024
- airport code IAH
- Event Tickets
- Houston Caribbean Festival website and Instagram page
Baltimore Washington/DC One Caribbean Carnival (July 12-14th, 2024)
- City: Baltimore, MD
- Road Parade: TBD
- airport code: DCA/BWI
- Instagram, Facebook Page and website
Atlantic City Carnival (July 19th-21st, 2024)
- City: Atlantic City, NJ
- Road Parade: July 21st, 2024
- airport code ACY, EWR
- Atlantic City Carnival website, Facebook and Instagram page
Boston Caribbean Carnival (TBA)
- City: Boston, Massachusetts
- Road Parade: TBA
- airport code BOS
- Boston Caribbean Carnival website and Instagram page
New York Carnival // West Indian Labor Day Parade (every Labor Day)
- City: Brooklyn, NY
- Road Parade: Monday, September 2nd, 2024
- airport codes JFK, LGA
- WIADCA official website and Instagram page
Virginia CaribFest (TBA for 2024)
- City: Norfolk, VA
- Road Parade: TBA
- airport code ORF
- Virginia Carib Fest website and Instagram page
Jacksonville Caribbean Carnival (August 10th, 2024)
- City: Jacksonville, FL
- Road Parade: August 10th, 2024
- airport code JAX
- Jacksonville Carnival website and Instagram page
Chicago Caribbean Carnival (August 17th, 2024)
- City: Chicago, IL
- Road Parade: August 17th, 2024
- airport code: ORD
- Chicago Caribbean Carnival website and Instagram
Miami (Sunday October 13th, 2024)
- City: Miami, FL
- Road Parade: Sunday October 13th, 2024
- airport codes (MIA, FLL)
- Miami Carnival website and official Instagram page
- Miami Carnival Guide 2024
Las Vegas Caribbean Festival (TBA)
- City: Las Vegas, Nevada
- airport code LAS
- Las Vegas Caribbean Festival website
Bayou Bacchanal (TBA)
- City: New Orleans, Louisiana
- airport code MSY
- Bayou Bacchanal website and Instagram
Follow me on Tiktok or the gram or if you need help planning a Caribbean Carnival in the USA, check out our Carnival Itinerary service.
