Broward Caribbean Carnival is a Caribbean cultural event which was held in Broward County for the first time in 2003, on the Sunday before Columbus Day, the event culminates in a costumed street parade and carnival extravaganza.  By the year 2008 this event is anticipated to be the largest of it’s kind in North America, thus becoming an integral part of the Caribbean American calendar.

This style of carnival originated in the mecca of carnival itself, Trinidad and Tobago, and has been exported to every island in the Caribbean, many major cities in the US and Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Sweden.  In fact, one of the top Carnival designers from Trinidad, Peter Minshall, was responsible for the opening and closing shows at the Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta in 1996.

Broward Caribbean Carnival features dozens of bands (groups) of masqueraders, which make up in total some 2,000 performers with the potential to grow.  Each band comprises approximately 100 masqueraders, wearing exotic and often extravagant costumes.  The parade also includes steel bands, large individual costumes, the Kings and Queens of each band, and a variety of Caribbean music.

On the Sunday of the carnival, these bands parade on the route accompanied by live music, DJ.’s on large trucks and steelbands.  The street parade, which is approximately two (2) miles long, culminates in the park where a competition is held for the title of “Band of the Year” in various categories.  The competition and other activities in the park attract over 50,000 patrons, and there are thousands more who view the parade on the street.

 The Sunday is the climax of weeks of previous activities.  The following tentative activities and competitions will be held before the street parade:

1. 2 Band Launchings
2. The Children’s Carnival
3. J’Ouvert
4. Calypso Legends
5. Beach Festival