When is Sugar Mas?
The Saint Kitts and Nevis National Carnival, also known as Sugar Mas, takes place over the period between Christmas and the New Year.
The last day of the Carnival takes place on January 2nd and this is the public holiday.
About Sugar Mas?
If you had the time. money and energy, you could probably while away a fun year by chasing the carnivals across the Caribbean.
All of these festivals originated as a heady mix of Medieval European partying before the austerity of Lent with African tribal traditions and rituals. This combination has also been further evolved in each country to give a unique flavour to each carnival.
Many of the carnivals also switched their dates from the pre-Lent dates to other times in the year. This has helped establish the different carnivals and increase tourist involvement, an important source of revenue on many islands.
From its beginning in 1971, Sugar Mas is now the uncontested biggest event of the year in the federation and an opportunity for the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere to punch above its weight.
Visitors to this colourful and exuberant festival will find all the essential carnival elements present and correct, such as J'ouvert and Last Lap vibrantly brought to life with all the usual characters such as clowns, moko jumbies, masqueraders, and other traditional figures.
Sugar Mas is also when many competitions such as beauty and talent pageants take place, including a hotly contest calypso contest, which attracts Caribbean-wide interest.
Kicking off on a Friday towards the end of November, Sugar Mas is essentially six weeks of partying with the streets filled with the infectious beat of soca and calypso music.
A highlight is the National Carnival Parade on January 1st, giving a warm Kittitian welcome to the New Year.
The next day, January 2nd, sees the closing of the Carnival with the Last Lap, a final parade and outing of the colourful costumes of the carnival participants before the winners of the Best Carnival Troupe and Road March Song competitions are announced.
