The big weekend is finally here. Here is your tactical strategy for navigating the crowds, the heat, and the rhythm of Aruba’s biggest events on Saturday and Sunday. It’s Friday the 13th. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. But more importantly for the thousands of people currently on the island, tomorrow kicks off the Grand Carnival Weekend. … Continue reading “The Local’s Guide to Surviving (and Loving) Aruba’s Grand Carnival”
Carnival Season in Aruba: Your Essential Guide
After the new year begins and the holiday fun comes to an end, many people might consider this the perfect time to rest and recharge. However, in Aruba, the post-holiday season calls for more celebration and fun! In January, the island’s most colorful and treasured celebration, Carnival, takes center stage. Carnival in Aruba isn’t just … Continue reading “Carnival Season in Aruba: Your Essential Guide”
Carnival Meets Cupid: What You Need to Know About February 14, 2026
February is always a magical time in Aruba, but 2026 is bringing a rare and exciting coincidence. This year, Valentine’s Day (Saturday, Feb 14) falls on the exact same day as the spectacular San Nicolas Grand Carnival Parade. For travelers, this means the island will be buzzing with double the energy. It also means you … Continue reading “Carnival Meets Cupid: What You Need to Know About February 14, 2026”
Everything You Need to Know About Aruba’s Grand Carnival Experience
While the end of Aruba’s treasured Carnival season is always hard to accept, the most anticipated parades finally make their appearance, the Grand Carnival Parades! If you plan to join the big party in the streets and visit during Carnival season, we are here to share some helpful insight and tips so that you can … Continue reading “Everything You Need to Know About Aruba’s Grand Carnival Experience”
Aruba Carnaval is Back, Celebrating 69 Years!
Aruba’s ‘Carnaval’ season has officially made its comeback and we are very excited, to say the least! With the recent (and long-anticipated) announcement of the return of Aruba’s Carnival, we felt it was the perfect time to share a little Aruba Carnival 101 knowledge, for those of you who have not yet experienced the most … Continue reading “Aruba Carnaval is Back, Celebrating 69 Years!”
Carnival Throwback: Colorful Costumes of the Last Decade
Carnival is here – Aruba’s biggest and most colorful party of the year! The One Happy Island celebrates their 66th carnival celebration in 2020, and as per usual, the Aruban community is happily enjoying every moment leading up to the grand parades. In honor of Aruba’s Carnival Season, I thought it would be fun for … Continue reading “Carnival Throwback: Colorful Costumes of the Last Decade”
Papiamento Words People Say During Aruba’s Carnival
Experiencing carnival in Aruba is a total bucket list must-do. Whether you’re in it, or watching from behind the barricades, the festive vibes are absolutely contagious. Step up your game and dazzle fellow Aruba lovers with your carnival knowledge by learning this colorful celebration’s lingo. Discover 16 Papiamento words and phrases that are commonly used … Continue reading “Papiamento Words People Say During Aruba’s Carnival”
A Glimpse of Aruba’s Carnival 65!
The colorful whirlwind known as Carnival has passed us by in a blink of an eye, yes… Aruba’s favorite time of year has sadly come to an end! Carnival came and conquered. Leaving all of Aruba in dire need of a week-long siesta (well, for some us at least). If you unfortunately did not catch … Continue reading “A Glimpse of Aruba’s Carnival 65!”
Authentic Aruba: Carnival
In the book ‘Carnival in Aruba: History and Meaning in Aruba’s Bacchanal’, Victoria M. Razak describes Carnival as a way to ‘suspend the rules of everyday life with a mask and a costume’. She goes on to describe the phenomenon of Carnival as ‘a time out of time’ when people can indulge in behavior that is ordinarily … Continue reading “Authentic Aruba: Carnival”