Facebook
Twitter
Curacao - Fun, Fabulous Festivals
Curacao could be called the Land of Festivals. There's something to celebrate everywhere you turn, and Curacao's residents are ready and willing to participate! Join in the fun the next time you visit and plan your trip to coincide with one of the many festivals. For more information on Curacao's other events, go to curacao.com or curacaocarnival.info for more on the Grand Carnival.
Carnival The Mother of all Curacao festivals is the Carnival, held each January and February, lasting for weeks and ending with a Grand Carnival. Each week brings different parades and activities ranging from children's parades to crowning of a Carnival Queen and King.
The festivities start with the opening day where musical and performing groups gather in the street wearing matching T-shirts bearing each group's name. Spectators watch and judge each group, remembering their favorites. In the following weeks, "jump-ups" and "jump-ins" are held as a way for each group to raise money for their group to participate in the "Gran Marcha."
In between the jump-ups, other festivities and contests are held. There's a heated contest for the naming of the Children's Carnival Queen, the Prince and the Pancho, a huge fundraising party, several Tumba (musical and dance) festivals, a horse carnival, a children's Tumba festival, a senior's festival, the teen royalty contest and crowning, a huge children's parade, the final election and crowning of the Carnival Queen, King and Pancho, a teen parade, a children's final parade, the Grand Carnival Parade, and more farewell parades!
The action never stops and the whole island takes time to revel in the spectacle and merry-making until they start the planning for next year's event!
Other festivals and events: Annual Food Festival Every year Curacao presents its famous Food Festival, where more than 50 booths gather together to present Curacao's legendary international cuisine in a relaxed, open-air environment. Taste a little bit from every booth to understand how uniquely diverse the island's cuisine really is!
Caribbean Navy Festival 2008 The Royal Dutch Navy and Curacao Sail Foundation are planning another maritime festival in May. The event will feature navy frigates and cutters but will include other ships and sailing vessels from other nations.
African Diaspora Film Festival This year will mark the fifth year of the African Diaspora Film Festival in Curacao. Scheduled for late June, the festival features black independent films from around the world. Notable films from the New York African Diaspora Film Festival will also be presented in addition to new films for this event.
The Curacao Sailing Regatta This event started more than 20 years ago and has since become one of the major draws of sailing enthusiasts from around the Caribbean.
Harvest Parade Each spring locals don their traditional costumes and hold a festival and parade through the street to celebrate the bountiful earth's produce.
Curacao Dive Festival Join other diving enthusiasts to take part in an all-out dive extravaganza with classes, diving instruction, seminars and a chance to hone your skills with world-class divers from around the globe.
International Caribbean Gospel Festival Every year gospel lovers from all over come to Curacao for this festival. Featuring local and international gospel singers and groups.
