Grenada Carnival

Grenada Carnival, better known as ‘Spice Mas’ – ‘Mas’ a form of masquerade – brings together a collage of traditional, elaborate masquerade costumes, a parade of the bands, Children’s Carnival Frolic, Rainbow City Festival, National queen show, J’Ouvert, beautiful steel pan music, and Monday Night Mas competition.

If there is one Carnival you head to this year, make it the Spicemas Carnival in Grenada!  Grenada Carnival is probably the number one cultural event on Grenada’s annual events calendar, The Spicemas traditional cultural event is not to be missed!

Before the main event starts, the young ones have their day to adorn bright costumes and parade through the streets of St George’s. Children’s Carnival Frolic is a Festival designed for the younger generation of Grenada, ranging from the ages 3 to 16. It embeds all the elements of Mas and pageantry, designed specifically to facilitate the kids.

Monday Night Mas’ A parade of lights, held Carnival Monday Night where spectators gather on the streets of St. George’s waiting to be entertained by thousands of masqueraders enjoying themselves whilst chipping down the streets to some of the local Soca music, in their neon and brightly colored garments and lighting instruments.

J’ouvert is a large street party held annually as part of Carnival in many Caribbean islands and in areas where Caribbean peoples have immigrated. J’ouvert is likely a gallicization of jou ouvè, the Antillean Creole French term meaning “dawn” or “daybreak”, as this is the time at which the festival is typically held.

National Carnival Queen Show is Where The Beauty Of Our Spice Island Queens Shine. The National Queen Show is the stage where Grenada’s young women compete for the title of ‘National Carnival Queen’ in costumes, evening gowns, and cultural performances. 

All of these activities reinforce the synergy of Carnival but not without the sensational rhythms of ‘Soca’ and Calypso music whose intricate renditions are sung by Calypso bands who compete on the big stage at numerous carnival shows including the National Soca Monarch and Dimanache Gras finals. In this competition the winner takes all and earns the right to reign supreme for one year as having won.