Antigua and Barbuda Carnival 2022: Twin-island country to host event in July, schedule announced

Antigua and Barbuda: The Creative Industries and Innovation Ministry (MCII) is all set to launch Antigua Carnival 2022 edition. This year, the theme of the Carnival will be “Experience Greatness – Again!”

The ministry has recently shared the schedule of the rich, vibrant as well as cultural festival. The much-awaited Carnival will be hosted after the hiatus of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Michael Browne, Minister responsible for festivals, stated that more than 50 countries in the world celebrate Carnival every year, but no one matches the level of “Greatest Summer Festival – Antigua’s Carnival.”

He asked the residents to look towards “the reigniting” of the spirit of Carnival through this year’s festivities.

Furthermore, to increase the excitement among the people of Antigua and Barbuda, he stated that the Carnival would witness performances by the country’s leading soca and calypso performers, including Tian Winter, Claudette ‘CP’ Peters, Dennise ‘Menace’ Roberts, Jahsan Hughes, Althea ‘Queen Althea’ Williams and Richie Francis.

The minister also pointed out the difficulties in planning the event in 2022 as the threat of the COVID-19 virus is still looming, and many countries are dealing with the 5th-6th wave of the infection. To date, Antigua and Barbuda has around 175 COVID-19 confirmed cases.

The schedule shared by the ministry is as follows:
July 22, Friday – The pre-Carnival events include a Band Meet Band showdown;
July 23, Saturday – T-shirt Mas;
July 24, Sunday – Car Show and celebration honouring Sir McLean “King Short Shirt” Emanuel;
July 25, Monday – Teen Rave;
July 26, Tuesday – The country will also see the staging of Drue’s Day;
July 27, Wednesday – Carnival officially gets underway with the official opening and the Jaycees Caribbean Queen Show.

Other activities on the calendar are Melting Pot, Panorama Competition, Party Monarch, Watch Night Celebration, Calypso Monarch Competition, Emancipation Day, J’ouvert, Culture and Cuisine, Carnival Monday, Calypso Monarch Competition and the Parade of the Bands and Last Lap on August 2.