Five famous and vibrant carnivals around the world

And time for another of David's top lists. This time the top five of carnivals around the world. I know I would love to go to Rio but let me see what more do you have in mind ;)

Visit any of the hundreds of carnivals that take place throughout the world and you can be confident there will be wonderful parades, fantastic music and tasty food. However, while amazing festivals and street parties can be found in every corner of the globe, you may discover the following five are among the very best.

Notting Hill Carnival - The largest event of its kind in Europe, the annual Notting Hill Carnival is a fun-filled celebration of Caribbean culture that takes place through the streets of west London.


Held over the course of the August bank holiday, the three-day party starts with a steel band competition on Saturday and is followed by Kids' Day on the Sunday, where you'll see children decorated in colourful outfits with prizes awarded to those deemed to have the best costume.

However, it's on Monday that the action really takes place, as the epic procession winds its way through the city, culminating at Ladbroke Grove. Performers wear a wide range of vibrant costumes, while soca, calypso and R&B music can be heard for miles around from the dozens of static sound systems that play throughout the day.

The carnival also hosts performances by some of the biggest names in music, Wyclef Jean, Katy B and Jamiroquai among those to have appeared in previous years, so you can be confident there'll plenty of opportunities for you to sing, dance and have fun.

If you've worked up an appetite, head to one of the many food stalls selling Caribbean cuisine, such as jerk chicken, fried plantain and rum punch. Some one million people attend the carnival each year, so you can be sure you'll be in good company when taking in the fun.

Many of the streets will be closed to vehicles during the bank holiday weekend, so using public transport is a good idea. Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate, Queens Park and Latimer Road are just some of the tube stations close to where the action takes place, although it is a good idea to check in advance for any temporary closures or diversions.

There are plenty of cheap hotels in London to choose from so you should have no problem finding suitable accommodation for the event.

Barbados Crop Over - To gain an insight into the roots of the Notting Hill Carnival, you might want to visit Barbados during its annual Crop Over festivities.


Much like the name suggests, this carnival was designed to mark the end of that year's successful sugar cane harvest and dates back to the late 17th century - a time when the Caribbean island was the world's largest producer of sugar and was under colonial rule.

In celebrating the harvest, workers used to hold feasts and drinking competitions and over the years Crop Over has developed into one of the region's most vibrant and biggest festivals.

Starting in June, the two-month event sees a wide range of musical performances, children's parties and shows take place. However, the highlight for many is the Grand Kadooment closing parade, held at the start of August and a designated national holiday.

This spectacle sees dozens of costumed bands perform in the streets, with the carnival closing with a fabulous firework display.

Quebec Winter Carnival - The Quebec Winter Carnival in Quebec City is likely to be a much chillier affair than Barbados' Crop Over, but you can still have plenty of fun when taking in this Canadian event.


Attended by around 750,000 people each year, the spectacle is held over a 17-day period in late January and early February so it's a good idea to wrap up warm!

Although the first official Quebec Winter Carnival took place in 1955, winter-themed celebrations have been happening in the city since 1894, with the locals gathering just before the start of Lent to eat, drink and have fun.

While these still form large parts of the modern-day carnival, it has since grown to encompass a range of other elements, including snow sculpture contests and dog-sled races.

More than 300 shows and activities take place and you can buy a Bonhomme Effigy pass to gain entrance to these for just CAD $12 (about £7.50). These include two Night Parades, held during the second and the third carnival weekends, where colourful floats make their way through the city and each year a beautiful ice palace is sculpted.

Events take place all over Quebec City, so getting to the action shouldn't be too hard. If you want to take in the Night Parades, however, you'll need to take either the 800 or 801 Metrobus to Charlesbourg.

Rio Carnival - Fantastic carnival action can also be found in Rio de Janeiro and like the Quebec Winter event this is held just before Lent, although it tends to start slightly later in the year, either in mid to late February or early March.


This four-day celebration kicks off 40 days before the beginning of Easter, commencing on Saturday and finishing on Shrove Tuesday.

With two million people taking to the Brazilian city's streets every day of the event, this is the world's biggest carnival so you'll definitely be in good company if you choose to be part of it.

Hundreds of groups of performers, called bandas and blocos, dress up in extravagant themed costumes and dance to the sound of samba music. But while the festival is mainly about fun, there is a competitive element to it with each team out to win the prestigious accolade of having the best float.

New Orleans Mardi Gras - Taking place around the same period of time as the Rio Carnival are the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.


Although Mardi Gras events have been held throughout the state of Louisiana since the 1830s, it is the New Orleans spectacle that is the biggest and most celebrated version.

Designed as a final celebration before the start of Lent, here parades are held on a daily basis for about two weeks up until the event's close on Shrove Tuesday. Many of these start in the Uptown and Mid-City districts of the city before heading along St Charles Avenue and Canal Street, with float riders often tossing colourful beads into the crowds

You'll also find lots of parties and celebrations taking place in Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, with marching jazz bands putting on great performances.

Another traditional element of the celebrations are king cakes, which are made from cinnamon-filled dough that is shaped into a hollow circle and finished with a glazed topping and coloured sugar, so make sure that you try one of these tasty treats while watching the fun.

With so many wonderful carnivals happening all over the world, you're sure to find a fabulous street party wherever you are.

Once again thanks to David and to the team of travelsupermarket.com for sharing!