You've heard of Carnival festivities in Rio and in New Orleans - these celebrations are famous, even iconic.  Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago, which has been around since colonial times when the slave population created the pre-Lenten festival  as exuberant opposition to their slave masters, is fast becoming just as iconic as Rio and the commerce of the T&T festival is big business.

If you decide to fully participate in the celebration, you can do so often right after Christmas which is when the Carnival season starts. You should be prepared to fete (party) and to spend a lot of money to get the full experience.  From all inclusive parties where you pay one flat price for all you can eat and drink to playing mas (participating in the 2 day parade) just before the Lenten season begins, you will be addicted, exhausted and broke...but you will be chomping at the bit to do it again next year! 

Here are some of the things you will be paying for - flight and accommodations, all the parties which can either contain live music and performers or an array of DJs or both, outfits for all the parties, your Carnival costumes, - the list goes on and on and the cost can be extensive.  In fact, local banks advertise 'Carnival loans' so that you can participate. Have you ever taken a loan to party?  The commerce of T&T Carnival makes it an option.

When you begin to look at the math behind annual events like Trinidad Carnival; you can understand why some people would leave their six figure income jobs to pursue the land of making mas and putting on parties.

To participate in the parade, you join a mas (masquerade) band and you choose the costume you would like to wear. Don't be fooled - your costume is often a frothy confection of sequins, feathers and a whole lot of skin (getting physically fit and ready for Carnival is also big business). Mas bands could have thousands signed up to play mas with them and costumes can go for over $1000 US, depending on the extravagance of the outfit.  If you do the math, you know that is a lot of money!  Tag in the costs of the parties which can cost hundreds of dollars and have thousands of guests...the numbers are astounding! 

Carnival is about a lot of things - a feeling, a vibe, amazing energy, a connection.  Entrepreneurs in Trinidad & Tobago have packaged non-stop around the clock parties, live frenetic concerts  and 2 days of parading and dancing in the streets so that you can feel that connection.  You will want to go back for more, time and time again. 

So while we don't think you should take out a loan to play mas, we  at Shades of Influence do think you should add a visit to Trinidad & Tobago for Carnival to your bucket list.  There are companies out there who will help you plan the whole experience...and what an experience it is!