This carnival is the most important event for people living in these two islands and it is said that when they are not celebrating it, they are either preparing for it or remembering previous years' carnival.
The celebrations include processions, music, dancing and the use of masquerade. Soca music, costumes, stick-fighting and and limbo competitions are also important parts of the festival. Similar carnivals around the world are Toronto's Caribana, Miami's Miami Carnival, Houston Carifest, London's Notting Hill Carnival and New York City's Labor Day Carnival.
Musical competitions are a large part of the carnival. Being Calypso Monarch is one of the country's greatest honours. Other prestigious titles are the King and Queen of the Bands, the International Soca Monarch, the Carnival Road March, and Panorama. Musicians use drums, claves, and the steelpan (created in Trinidad, it is the only non-electrical instrument invented in the 20th century). Trinidad and Tobago's multiculturalism has contributed musical influences to the sounds of Carnival. Participants wear elaborate costumes, decorated with feathers and sequins.
What makes this parade unique is that both locals and tourists participate in the parade of bans. Each band is led by a King and Queen, who wear extremely large costumes and sometimes have to make use of wheels to carry them through the parade.
Children can also be a part of the carnival by participating in "Kiddies' Carnival" shows, which usually occur as early as 4 weeks before the carnival.
Children can also be a part of the carnival by participating in "Kiddies' Carnival" shows, which usually occur as early as 4 weeks before the carnival.
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