FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN TRINIDAD

Find something unique to experience in Trinidad. Here's a look at our upcoming festivals and cultural events!

THINGS TO DO IN TRINIDAD: MARCH 2024

March 3 - 4, 2025

From the start of leatherback turtle nesting season to cultural activities including Phagwa – find something unique to do in Trinidad this March!

Need more information? Be sure to reach out to the organizers of each event or activity for further details, or reach out to our team at [email protected].

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO CARNIVAL

March 3 - 4, 2025

Known as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival is officially celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday every year. The Carnival festivities start just after Christmas and continue until Ash Wednesday, with dozens of high energy parties and premier cultural competitions.

From its diverse people and culture to its amazing biodiversity, Trinidad and Tobago ‘break the mould’ of the typical Caribbean destination and boasts a year-long calendar of cultural events and festivals, friendly, multi-ethnic people and amazing adventure.

SPIRITUAL BAPTIST LIBERATION DAY

March 30, 2024

Spiritual Shouter Baptist is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago, comprising elements of Protestant Christianity and African doctrines and rituals. From 1917 to 1951 the Spiritual and Shouter Baptist faith in Trinidad was banned from observing their religion in Trinidad by the colonial government of the day. Baptists decided to use the term Spiritual Baptists instead of Shouter Baptists, to gain respect for their religion.

Finally, after much lobbying, the Bill to repeal the ordinance was passed on 30 March 1951, as The Repeal of Shouters Prohibition Ordinance. The Spiritual Shouter Baptists were free to practice their Religion. The holiday is marked with processions, Church services, performances and religious observances.

PHAGWA

March 2024

The beginning of the Indian spring and the Hindu New Year is celebrated in the month of March with a festival called Phagwa.

Most significant of the festival is the use of a distinctive purple dye abir, a vegetable dye that Phagwa participants spray over one another as part of the celebrations along with singing and dancing.

EID-UL-FITR

April 2024

Commonly referred to as “Eid” is the most widely recognized Islamic observance in Trinidad and Tobago. Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which is celebrated in homes and mosques throughout the country.

In Trinidad and Tobago Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank God for the help and strength by wearing new clothes, giving money to the homeless in their communities and serving a local Muslim treat called Sawine to friends.

INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY

May 30, 2024

Indian Arrival Day commemorates the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845, on the ship Fatel Razack. The Fatel Razack brought not only a new labour force to assist in the economic development of Trinidad, but also a new people with a new culture.

In 1994 the day was made an official public holiday, called Arrival Day. In 1995, it was re-named Indian Arrival Day. On 30th May each year, Indian Arrival Day commemorates this momentous event by staging a re-enactment of the arrival of the Fatel Razack at various beaches throughout Trinidad and Tobago. There is also music and dance, and outstanding members of the community are honoured for their contributions to society.

Indian Immigration to Trinidad spanned the period 1845-1917. During this period over 140,000 Indians were transported to the island. The journey was long and arduous and living conditions were deplorable. After disembarking at Nelson Island, the arrivals were fed and rested for a couple weeks and then sent to the various estates that had requested them previously.

CORPUS CHRISTI

May 30, 2024

In Trinidad and Tobago Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) is a Christian feast celebrating the Holy Eucharist. The feast which is primarily celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the death and resurrection of Christ with Mass or Communion whereby, Christians partake in a representation of Christ’s body and blood.

LABOUR DAY

June 19, 2024

In Trinidad and Tobago Labour Day was declared an annual national holiday in 1973. Celebrated on June 19th, it is the anniversary of the day of the Butler Oilfield Riots which took place in 1937.

Prior to this time there were ongoing tensions between workers and employers in many sectors of society. These were characterized by situations of worker abuse, underpayment for labour, racism, economic depression and a considerable fall in the living standards of the working class. Between 1934 and 1937 workers became more influenced by a need for change resulting in strikes and riots which extended throughout the Caribbean. This gave rise to several prominent labour leaders in Trinidad and Tobago such as Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler.

Butler was awarded the nation’s highest honour, the Trinity Cross, and the country’s main highway has been re-named in his honour. Today, a statue of Butler stands at the Fyzabad junction, the place where police attempted to arrest him on June 19th, the day of the historic riots 1937.

Labour Day is marked by trade union marches and gatherings in Fyzabad every year.

HOSAY

July 2024

Hosay is a Muslim Indo-Caribbean commemoration. In Trinidad and Tobago, multi-colored model mausoleums or Mosque shaped model tombs known as Tadjah are used to display the symbolic part of this commemoration. They are built and paraded, then ritually taken to the sea on last day of observance, and finally discarded into the water.

EMANCIPATION DAY

August 1, 2024

On August 1, 1838, the enslaved Africans throughout the British Empire in the Caribbean were freed from slavery. In Trinidad and Tobago August 1, 1985, Emancipation Day was declared a national holiday and has since grown into a major national festival, where thousands of people participate in various activities.

The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad & Tobago hosts a week of activities leading up to Emancipation Day including cultural performances in music, song and dance. Other activities include an art exhibition, lectures by prominent Pan African scholars, opportunities for networking and business development opportunities within the emancipation village.

The Kamboule (street procession) on Emancipation Day is theatre in motion, a mass procession throughout the streets of the capital Port-of-Spain, featuring African drums, steelband, moko jumbies and dance groups. The day ends with the Flambeau Procession later in the night, recalling the rebellion of the African Ancestors against slavery.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

August 31, 2024

This day commemorates Trinidad and Tobago’s independence from Britain in 1962. At midnight on 30th August 1962, the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered and the Trinidad and Tobago flag was raised for the first time. Bells tolled and sirens rang out to herald the birth of the newly independent nation. Several international dignitaries were present for this auspicious occasion including the Queen’s representative Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal who read the message sent by Queen Elizabeth II, relinquishing her rule.

Today, Independence Day is celebrated with military-style parade through the streets of Port-of-Spain. Cheering spectators gather in the national colours to see the parade creating a carnival-like atmosphere.

Finally, this day of celebration ends with fireworks displays at the Queen’s Park Savannah, where thousands of people gather to view the free show.

REPUBLIC DAY

September 24, 2024

Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1st, 1976. The event is celebrated as a public holiday on September 24th because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution.

On this day we celebrate having a Trinidad and Tobago President replace the Queen of England as the head of state, and the islands becoming a Republic – A state or nation in which the supreme power rests in all the citizens entitled to vote (the electorate), and is exercised by representatives elected, directly or indirectly, by them, and responsible to them.

DIVALI

October 2024

Divali, is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the Festival of Lights which symbolizes the lifting of spiritual darkness. It is a celebration of good over evil and light over darkness.

Divali was brought to Trinidad and Tobago by Hindus who came as indentured labourers in 1845. The celebration of Divali in Trinidad and Tobago is marked as a national holiday with numerous functions held to celebrate the festival of lights.

The celebration of Divali in Trinidad is one of the largest in the English-speaking Caribbean. Celebrations are not only held at temples and by religious groups, it has been extended to homes and communities but now organisations have also embraced this festival with special events held to commemorate this occasion.

On this day Hindus perform religious ceremonies in worship of ‘Mother Lakshmi’, the goddess of light and prosperity. It is also customary that small clay bowls known as deyas are filled with oil and lit by cotton wicks.

CHRISTMAS

December 25, 2024

Christmas is known to be a religious observance of Christianity celebrating the birth of Christ. However, in Trinidad and Tobago Christmas has expanded well beyond religion to come a cultural celebration.

The entire month of December is a very joyous season. Christmas is celebrated with large gatherings of families and friends sharing sumptuous meals all while opening gifts that are under the Christmas tree.

In Trinidad and Tobago visitors known as paranderos are invited to partake in the celebrations as they go from house to house evoking the spirit of the season by serenading families with indigenous Spanish carols, known as Parang.