Your Antigua Carnival Experience
If you have booked an Antigua holiday during carnival, or you are thinking about going, we have teamed up with the Antigua Tourist Board and the Antigua Carnivals Commission to bring you some exclusive packages for costumes, island tours and event tickets!
What to Expect at Antigua Carnival
Are you ready to embark on an experience of a lifetime in Antigua? Carnival in the Caribbean is a blast, and on the island of Antigua it’s no different. “Mas” (short for Masquerade) or carnival is one of the best experiences in life. It’s all about music, freedom and the costumes. Carnival is a celebration of the emancipation of slaves, the main thread that connects all the Caribbean together. During the carnival season, it is where thousands take to the streets of Antigua to celebrate with parties from dusk till dawn, food fairs, parades and concerts.
How You Can Get Involved
Antigua’s carnival is the island’s greatest festival. It is a two week festivity of colourful costumes, good music, dancing, pageants, talent shows and raw energy starting from the last week in July until the first Tuesday in August. You can get involved by “playing mas” with one of the island’s many bands or by participating on your own. If you decide on the band, find one that you like, choose the section you want to participate in like the front or back and pay for the costume to march along with them. If you choose an all-inclusive band, your payment will cover everything from the costume to the food and beverage.
Parties and Events Schedule
There’s a lot going on during Antigua’s carnival season, including many pre-carnival fetes and activities such as the Opening Parade, Calypso Monarch, Queen of Carnival Pageant, T-Shirt Mas, J’ouvert and other events. Most of these fetes are guaranteed to be fun! Expect participants wearing elaborate costumes full of colour, gems and feathers. Bands organised in groups led by Kings and Queens in masquerade, lots of soca, calypso and steel drum music, and of course, lots of dancing through the street. When you march with one of the carnival bands through the streets of St. Johns this is called ‘playing mas.’ Carnival culminates on Carnival Tuesday with the colourful Parade of the Troupes and Groups and Last Lap. Locals and visitors of Antigua enjoy the freedom and euphoria that emanates as they jump and jam through the streets of St. John’s or simply watch it all unfold.
The Parties
T-shirt Mas by Insane
Date: 27th July
Time: 2pm
What is it? It’s a party but without the elaborate feathered costumes, instead they’re low key costumes ‘t-Shirt Mas’. Imagine close to 3000 people dressed in matching T-shirts and caps, dance in the streets to predominantly soca beats. Revelers have no need to stray as they parade through the city. This street party provides two full meals (at start and finish) and unlimited drinks. The festivities kick off in the heart of the city to pulsating music last for 7 hours. At the end of which, we guarantee you will be want for more. This secured party environment, includes mobile air-conditioned restrooms followed right behind with a cool down bus.
What is included:
- Drinks (premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
- T-shirt and Cap
- Two full meals, plus soup
Price: Full price is usually $75 but we have secured a $10 discount for you, so you pay $65 (about £50)
Melting Pot
Date: 1st August
Time: 8:00pm
What is it? Melting Pot is the second biggest event on the Carnival line up during Antigua Carnival. Come and experience a melting pot of music and diverse culture. This event is a blend of several local, regional and international artistes, performing music from different genres, including Soca, Calypso, Reggae, Dancehall, Zouk and R&B. On this night the music from all genres will simply captivate your mind.
What is included: Entry to the party
Price: $15 (about £11.50)
Powder Fete
Date: 2nd August
Time: 10:00pm (gates open at 9:00pm)
What is it?
This carnival party involves throwing balls of coloured powder (a bit like India’s Holi Festival). This portrays the cultural element from earlier years of celebrations where powder was a major element. Patrons beautify their bodies with the different colours of powder and dance to live music from three of the Caribbean’s top bands to the early hours of the morning.
What is included: Entry to the party
Price: Full price is usually $20 but we have secured a $10 discount for you, so you pay $10! (About £8)
Party Monarch
Date: 4th August
Time: Pre-show starts at 8:00pm and Competition starts at 9:00pm
What is it? Party Monarch also known as Bacchanal night is the premier event of the Carnival season. This fete is one of the largest events where musical energy and performances take centre stage as party music energise the audience. At the end of Bacchanal, two of the Soca Gods and Goddesses will be crowned with the coveted Monarch titles.
What is included: Entry to the party
Price: $10 (about £8)
Costumes / Mas
It’s one thing to experience the carnival as an on-looker, but it’s a completely different experience to be a part of it! Whether its your first carnival or your 30th – anyone can decide to get a costume (Mas) and join the parade! We have costumes from two popular Mas bands and all costumes can come in bikini’s, tankini, one piece or men’s and all sizes are available as they will be standard sizes that can be easily adjusted. Each costume will be slightly different but all will follow the same theme for each Mas troop. Enjoy two days of parading through the streets in an incredible costume. This secured party environment, includes mobile air-conditioned restrooms followed right behind with a cool down bus.
Save over £100 by ordering a costume (Mas) with us!
Mas Troop 1: Insane
What’s included:
- Costume/Mas similar to the image above
- Premium alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic drinks
- Full Meal and Finger Foods, all included
Price: Full price is usually around $475 depending on what costume you want but we have secured a $100 discount for you, so you pay around $375! (About £285)
Mas Troop 2: Beautiful People
We will post photos after the costume launch has taken place!
What’s included:
- Costume/Mas similar to the image above
- Premium alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic drinks
- Full Meal
Price: Full price is usually $450 but we have secured a $125 discount for you, so you pay $325! (About £265)
Sight Seeing Tours
Antigua is a beautiful country so make sure save some time for seeing the sights! We have two day trips available for you at a discounted price; one trip enables you to see the sights on land and the other sails around the island….
Sail Around the Island
Spend the day on a boat sailing around the island; Enjoy island hopping, stopping at deserted beaches and snorkelling amongst coral reef. You will also get to see Devil’s Bridge, English Harbour and Bird Island. Just imagine the wind in your hair, an open bar and the sound of calypso and reggae. Heavenly!
What’s included:
- Full day tour (roughly 6 hours)
- Lunch
- Drinks (alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
Price: Full price is usually $120 but we have secured a $30 discount for you, so you pay $90! (About £70)
Island Discovery Jeep Tour
Learn about folklore, culture and the rich history of Antigua. This fun filled day out will take you to the best sights on the island including; a stop at the national park to watch a film presentation, panoramic views of Falmouth Harbour, Betty’s Hope plantation where you will have lunch, Pot Works Dam, Devil’s Bridge and then end with a well-deserved beach stop.
What’s included:
- Full day tour (roughly 6 hours)
- Lunch
- Cold beverages
Price: Full price is usually $110 but we have secured a $40 discount for you, so you pay $70! (About £55)
*Keep in mind the currency conversions were done just before Brexit so they may vary, the US Dollar price will remain the same.
Booking & More Information
If you are interested in any of these offers, or have any questions please complete the form below. We will pass your information on to Antigua Tourist Board and the Carnival Commission who will get back to you. Don’t worry we wont sign you up to any marketing lists unless you ask us to!
Please give information below as to which of the above you are interested in.
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