The opening ceremony for Aruba's 60th Carnival Season recently took place at Cas di Cultura. Aruba's Carnival Season always starts on the 11th of the 11th and this years opening was organized with even more majesty than other years, as it marks the Diamond Jubilee of Aruba's Carnival.

The magazine Bacchanal has been the tribute and guide to everything carnival for over a decade, informing on dates, music contests, pageants and parades, as well as highlights of the previous year.

From the youngest to the Oldest enjoyed the season of Carnival and the festivities that took place during the season. As the 59th carnival season ended islanders closed and bid farewell to carnival with the traditional burning of the Momo.

Even after testing the limits of time this year for carnival preparations, it was nothing short of spectacular. The streets of Aruba, once more, were filled with colorful creations and the unmistakable rhythms of carnival music that left participants and the audience only looking forward to next year, when Aruba will be celebrating it's diamond anniversary with 60 years of carnival.

This past Sunday over a thousand children participated in the most adorable parade ever this year, with cute colorful costumes, fantastic floats and elegant roadpieces. Oranjestad streets were filled with music, glitter and amazing displays of carnival artistry. 

Glady Martina as Sra. Carnival for TOB, and Samantha Anais Robert as the Grand Carnival Queen for Royal Carnival Group. During a spectacular pageant last weekend, participants for both Aruba's Grand Carnival Queen and Senora Carnival delighted the audience with their fabulous shows, creative costumes and performances.

Great energy and a display of light was presented on the streets of Oranjestad during the 59th Lighting Parade. Many Carnival groups showed off their colorful costumes as well as road pieces adorned in a sea of lights accompanied by the beats of Aruba's carnival bands.

This year five dynamic girls aspired to be Aruba’s Carnival Children’s Queen and four girls were in the running for the title of Aruba’s Carnival Youth Queen.  Edylienne Tromp dominated almost all categories in the Child Queen category and was crowned as Aruba 38th Children’s Queen. Kiziah Trimon was awarded with Most Popular, Best Costume and SETAR Youth Queen and took the 50th Youth Queen title.

The customary transfer of command took place just weeks from the big parade. The Prime Minister handed over the keys so the new rulers for this Carnival season can lead the coming parades. The Prins and Panchos are usually at the front of each parade escorting their royal Carnival Queens.