Hundreds of Carnival lovers attended the opening of the John Cupid Carnival Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Friday.
They jumped and waved to the beats of Calypso and Soca and were made to ‘pay the devil.’
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, noted the Carnival Village has grown exponentially over the years.
“During Carnival 2023, the National Carnival Commission recorded over 70,000 patrons visiting this Carnival Village, and in 2024, the NCC recorded an increase of patronage to the Carnival Village of over 100,000 persons, and that is an increase of over 30,000 more persons experiencing this Carnival Village in 2024 over 2023.”
The Carnival Village is open free of charge to the public, and Minister Mitchell assures there is activity for everyone.
“There will be over 40 vendors selling a range of products, including craft items, tasty cuisine, and clothing, and we are surely in for an unforgettable experience with 20 events covering a wide range of our Carnival music genres from Extempo to Chutney to Calypso and Soca. There are also youth-focused events, a Youth Extravaganza, and Stars of Tomorrow.”
He is optimistic that Carnival 2025 will be one of the most exciting and expansive celebrations in our nation’s history.
“This year, we have 410 more aircraft arriving to Trinidad and Tobago from our international destinations from February 1st to the first week in March, and therefore we expect more international visitors this year during Carnival season, and visitor spend is likely to surpass the $640 million spent in 2024.”
Cruise tourism is also expected to add to the number of visitors during the Carnival season.
“Additionally, as our cruise ship season progresses, we are set to welcome six cruise ships during the period of February to March 2025, including our Epic Carnival Experience, which will be docked for five days at the Port of Port of Spain, bringing 2,300 passengers eager to revel in all of our Carnival activities.”
The John Cupid Carnival Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah runs from February 7th to March 5th.