Carnival in Aruba is one big Caribbean party, a world-class festival and to those who have never experienced it, it’s celebrated with such passion matched only by World Cup soccer. Its music is vibrant, colorful and bright-hued and the thing that makes Aruba’s carnival one of a kind, is that visitors all are part of the ongoing scene. Queen contests, huge reaches of musical competition, all spirit you into the early morning hours to go on for days and weeks.
‘Jouvert Morning’, the definitive Caribbean street celebration, food feasts, and more astounding parades every year, all lead up to the Grand Parade held in Oranjestad the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Two events that also draw admiring crowds are the Grand Children’s Parade, which is a huge get together of several districts, social clubs and schools and the Lighting Parade, a unique night affair to remember, where people are decorated with beautiful lights.
The Lighting Parade goes to the farthest point of dazzling glittery show time with miles of lighted fantasy floats and extravagantly stunning costumes; a kaleidoscope of light in the Carnival beat, shining brightly in the night and a tribute to the Aruban feeling of splendor.
Aruba’s 2020 Carnival Schedule
| Saturday Jan. 04, 2020 Torch Parade – Oranjestad – 8PM – 2AM |
| Friday Jan. 10, 2020 Prins & Pancho Elections – Carnival Village – 7PM – 2AM |
| Saturday Jan 11, 2020 Children & Youth Calypso & Roadmarch Contest – Carnival Village – 5PM-11PM |
| Friday Jan. 17, 2020 Children & Youth Queen Elections – Carnival Village – 7PM-1AM |
| Saturday Jan. 18, 2020 Aruba’s 66th Carnival Queen & Mrs. Carnival Elections – Carnival Village – 8PM-2AM |
| Sunday Jan. 19, 2020 Parada di Blaas – San Nicolas – 1-6PM |
| Friday Jan. 24, 2020 Tumberito Festival – Carnival Village – 7PM-12AM |
| Monday Jan. 27, 2020 Pre-Final Caiso & Soca Monarch – Carnival Village – 8PM-1AM |
| Tuesday Jan. 28, 2020 Pre-Final Caiso & Soca Monarch – Carnival Village – 8PM-1AM |
| Wednesday Jan. 29, 2020 Pre-Final Caiso & Soca Monarch – Carnival Village – 8PM-1AM |
| Friday Jan. 31, 2020 Final Caiso Monarch – Carnival Village – 8PM – 3AM |
| Saturday Feb. 01, 2020 Super Saturday Soca Finals – Carnival Village – 8PM – 3AM |
| Wednesday Feb. 05, 2020 La Ora Loca Jump Up – Santa Cruz – 8PM-12AM |
| Friday Feb. 07, 2020 Grand Tumba Contest – Carnival Village – 8PM-2AM |
| Saturday Feb. 08, 2020 Children’s Parade Noord – Noord – 2-6PM |
| Sunday Feb. 09, 2020 Grand Children’s Parade San Nicolas – San Nicolas – 2-6PM |
| Wednesday Feb. 12, 2020 Sunset Parade – Noord – 6PM-1AM |
| Friday Feb. 14, 2020 Welcome to Jouvert – San Nicolas – 8PM-2AM |
| Saturday Feb. 15, 2020 Jouvert Morning – San Nicolas – 4-10AM |
| Sunday Feb. 16, 2020 Grand Children’s Parade Oranjestad – 2-6PM |
| Sunday Feb. 16, 2020 Bruning of Momito – APA – 7-9PM |
| Wednesday Feb. 19, 2020 Jumpup Dakota – 8-10PM |
| Thursday Feb. 20, 2020 Parada di Luz San Nicolas – 8PM-2AM |
| Friday Feb. 21, 2020 Hebbe Hebbe – TBA – 8PM-1AM |
| Friday Feb. 21, 2020 Kiwani’s Masquerade Ball – Renaissance Convention Center – 9PM-3AM |
| Saturday Feb. 22, 2020 San Nicolas Grand Parade – 11Am-6PM |
| Sunday Feb. 23, 2020 Aruba’s 66th Grand Parade – 11Am-6PM |
| Monday Feb. 23, 2020 Burn Out Monday – Baby Beach – 2-6PM |
| Tuesday Feb. 25, 2020 Old Mask Parade & Burning of MOMO – San Nicolas – 7PM-12AM |