Sugar Mas, or the National Carnival of St. Kitts and Nevis, is a Caribbean carnival unlike any other. It is the only Caribbean carnival that incorporates the spirit of Christmas into the celebrations, taking place yearly between Christmas and New Year. The island will be engulfed in a carnival fever, with colorful costumes, displays, and partygoers, as well as a variety of activities to enjoy throughout the carnival. Sugar Mas is consistently the largest event in the Federation. The 48th edition of the carnival will run from November 22, 2019, to January 4, 2020, and will include all of the festival’s classic favorites, as well as a few surprises. The National Carnival is traditionally held on a Friday, with a bright female calypso act opening the festivities. The party continues after that, with a succession of fetes and exciting events ranging from Blu’s powder-filled revelry to Flag & Wet’s distinctive blend of live music and waterworks in the coming weeks.
The National Carnival provides nonstop entertainment in between the two events. The qualifying stages of the national soca and calypso championships bring the greatest performers from throughout the country together on one platform. Bar crawls and sunset cruises provide plenty of opportunities to meet new people and talk about the day’s events. Folkloric storytelling troupes bring the island’s rich history to life, while the National Queen, Swimsuit, Mr. GQ, and Talented Teen Pageants celebrate the island’s present in the days leading up to the new year. Sugar Mas is coming to an end after six weeks of revelry. On January 2, participants take to the streets for the National Carnival’s final outdoor event, the Last Lap. The winners of the Best Carnival Troupe and Road March Song categories are announced amid singing and dancing, a fitting finish to a carnival that filled the Kittitian air with music and laughter.
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Photo by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández on Unsplash