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Bayou Bacchanal: The Original Caribbean Carnival of New Orleans • Nadia Nelson

A nations culture resides in the heart and the soul of its people. – Mahatma Gandhi

Bayou Bacchanal

Good vibes, food, and music are three of the most important things in my life. That’s exactly what Bayou Bacchanal brings. Brought to you by Friends of Culture, Bayou Bacchanal brings Caribbean culture to the Greater New Orleans area. This annual event, that takes place every November during the first Saturday, is also known as “Carnival”. Not to confuse it with traditional carnivals, Bayou Bacchanal is a West Indian style carnival. Some of the Caribean islands represented are-Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Antigua, Guyana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, Greneda, to name a few. The weekend is filled with parties, a parade downtown, and ends with good times in the park.

Bayou Bacchanal Young Masqueraders

Free and open to the public, Bayou Bacchanal shares rich Caribbean culture with the general public. Introducing them to the unique and festive traditions that are celebrated through food, music, and dance. The festivities begin with a parade.  Masquerades begin downtown and works their way to Armstrong Park. They range from the young to the elderly. Some dressed in extravagant costumes. Brightly colored, intricately detailed. Alternatively, you can find them in a t-shirt and shorts- covered in paint, baby powder and oil. Parading up and down the street, dancing to their favorite soca music. The parade ends with a huge fete in the park.

Masquarade Costumes

Yellow Masquerader Costumes

Masquarader

Masquerader

Masquerader

Fête in the Park


fête /fāt/- n. a celebration or festival


As with any celebration or festival- food, music, drink and a good time are the common themes. With Bayou Bacchanal it was no different. Taking place in the iconic Congo Square in Armstrong Park- walkers by can take part in the good food and feel good soca and reggae music. Vendors are available as well.  Selling items unique to the Caribbean culture, such as flags, jewerly, clothing, and car accessories.

Caribbean Vendor

Party-goers can taste caribbean delicacies. Such as fried shark po-boys, curried chicken, goat, beef and roti, pelau, even vegan options. Caribbean drinks such as sorrel and mauby were also available to try. Bayou Bacchanal definitely links the Greater New Orleans area with its local caribbean culture. Giving eveyone who wishes to partake, a peek at true island culture. My favorite part of Carnival is the music. There’s something about the feel good vibes Caribbean music brings. I danced non-stop to the beat.

Enjoying Caribbean music

If you’re ever in the New Orleans area during the 1st weekend in November, I urge you to stop by- try good food and groove to the beat. Have you ever been to a Caribbean carnival? Let me know your most memorable experience(s) in the comments.

Author

Hi, I’m Nadia. Full-time foodie. Part-time traveler. Book worm. Life lover. Quote hoarder. Compliance diva. Photographer. Travel consultant.

22 Comments

  1. New Orleans is mostly on my bucket list – because I LOVE Cajun food and when I am there I am going to be spending all of my money on food!

    • I love cajun food as well. I can not get it as I would like in Texas, but I indulge when I travel home to Louisiana.

  2. Oh my gosh! That looks like so much fun!! I love the colors. I have never been, you have convinced me. 🙂

  3. This whole bacanal sounds like we’d have so much fun! I need to add New Orleans to my travel wishlist for sure!

  4. What a colorful festival! I love the outfits and I bet the atmosphere, vibe, and music is great. Hope to visit one day and possibly even make it to the festival!

  5. LOVE the colors. I’ve been to Jamaica and it reminds me of this. So festive and alive. I’m getting to visit New Orleans in February and look forward to looking around

    • Awesome. I hope you get a chance to experience Mardi Gras, if not there is a Jerk Chicken festival the latter part of the month. Hope you have a good time.

  6. I have never been to a Caribbean Carnival but I bet the food and music are both awesome! Tell me please, how are the dancers covered in baby powder and baby oil? Or is it one or the other?

    • It can be one or the other. In certain events, it can be both. Paint is also used. It’s always festive.

  7. I’ve always wanted to go to new orleans! I feel like it’s one of the few places in the country that have a rich culture and a really different way of life from the rest of the country.

  8. Oh wow how amazing does this look! Such a party atmosphere with those vibrant and colourful outfits that look awesome 🙂 x

  9. Agnes Vazhure Reply

    This Caribbean carnival looks so much fun. Such a colorful and stunning costumes. It seems that you had a fun and awesome experience there.

  10. This must be nice. Sounds like an awesome time and sounds like something i would love to experience one day. I really like the yellow costume the most.

  11. This looks so awesome, I loved seeing all your pictures, so many bright colours and fun costumes make my eyes happy! I agree with you, Good music, food and vibes are important!

  12. I’ve never been to a Caribbean carnival but it looks so fun! I love the whole vibe of celebration and joy — from the colorful outfits, to the delicious food, and incredible dancing. What a beautiful tradition!

  13. Now this is the kind of Carnaval I’d want to go to. We have it in Spain too. However people think they can just be whatever they want. The costumes can get rather offensive. I hate that part.

  14. Ellie Plummer Reply

    This sounds like so much fun. The photos are really cool too.

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