Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival

Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival is celebrated annually on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. This festival showcases calypso and soca music, costumes and various competitions which culminates with several bands competing for the band of the year title on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.  On these two days, thousands of masquerades parade through the streets  displaying their colourful and exuberant costumes. 

The build up to Carnival Monday and Tuesday showcases several competitions such as Junior Soca Monarch and Extempo Monarch which are awarded to the best singer of that respective competition.  The International Soca Monarch competition is not one to miss as the contestants compete for the title in the Groovy or Power category.  The most popular songs introduced for that year can be heard at this competition.  

The King and Queen of the bands are selected at the Dimanche Gras show which takes place the Sunday night before Carnival Monday.  At this show, judges select the winner of  the band that portrays the most artistic and exuberant costume.   The winner of the calypso competition is also selected at this show.  This person receives the title of Calypso Monarch.
The countries national instrument, the Steel Pan is also showcased during the Carnival season with the Panorama Competition.

The parade of the bands is a celebration you will not want to miss.  Have you decided which band you will be playing with next year?