Carnival Tuesday is a festive public holiday in the twin-island country of Antigua and Barbuda. Celebrated annually on the first Tuesday of August, this holiday effectively closes off the summer carnival season - a colourful extravaganza that encompasses parades, music concerts, and beauty pageants. It's the event of the year where locals and tourists alike come together to join in the festivities.
Traditionally, Carnival Tuesday, also known as the Last Lap, is the final day of the ten-day carnival celebration. People dress up in vibrant costumes, prepare exuberant floats and partake in joyful dancing and singing in the streets of capital city, St. John's. Moreover, it's the day when the winners of the various carnival competitions, including the Calypso Monarch and the Carnival Queen, are declared.
Carnival Tuesday in Antigua and Barbuda holds rich cultural significance. The holiday serves as a profound tribute to the end of slavery in the country, expressing freedom and resilience through music, costume, and performance. The music played during the parade is a fusion of Calypso, Soca, and Iron Bands, producing contagious rhythms that get everybody moving. With sunshine, rhythm, and people’s energy, Carnival Tuesday is a grand, exhilarating epitome of Antigua and Barbuda's spirited culture.