Event: Aruba

Aruba Carnival

When:	2 Jan - 4 Feb 2008 (annual)
Where:	Aruba
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	First parade begins 8pm, final celebrations end midnight Shrove Tue

Aruba's carnival is the biggest annual event around the island. A vibrant display of pre-Lent exuberance, it includes parades with dancers in fantastic fancy dress, competitions and a plethora of "jump-ups" (street parties).

The fun begins with Tivoli's Torch Parade in Oranjestaad at the beginning of January and then the Grand Parade on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday takes over the whole town. The final event is the Old Mask Parade, which includes the ceremonial burning of King Momo, symbol of the flesh, just before midnight on Shrove Tuesday (the ceremony having begun at 8pm). It's all accompanied by music, from the Antillean "tumba" to calypso and steel bands of the English Caribbean and the salsa beat of Latin countries.