Port of Spain, Trinidad – Where else can one partake in a dragon boat festival one day, nosh on blue food the next and celebrate the Hindu festival of lights on another? No place other than Trinidad & Tobago.
With a diverse menu of fall festivals and events, the dual-island nation is the ideal location for travelers looking to mix in a little culture with their sun, sand and sea vacation.
Whether participating in the island’s annual Divali festival – the Hindu festival of lights; sampling and savoring traditional fare during the Tobago Blue Food Festival or enjoying the smooth sounds and musical stylings of local pannists (steelpan players) and jazz performers during the Trinidad & Tobago Steel Pan and Jazz Festival, there is a wide selection of events and cultural celebrations for those looking for an experiential getaway.
Chinese Arrival Dragon Boat Festival
October 9
The Chinese culture, its authentic traditions, food and entertainment will be on full display during Trinidad & Tobago’s fifth annual Chinese Arrival Dragon Boat Festival. The event, launched in 2006, is designed to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants in Trinidad in 1806. The event, hosted by the Chinese Bicentennial Committee in conjunction with the T&T Dragon Boat Federation, will showcase entertainment provided by the Chinese Arts and Cultural Society and a wide selection of traditional Chinese cuisine. For more information, visit www.gotrinidadandtobago.com.
Tobago Blue Food Festival
October 16
Through inspired culinary creations, the Tobago Blue Food Festival, spearheaded by the Tobago House of Assembly Division of Tourism and Transportation (THA), will highlight the island’s indigenous foods including dasheen, a starchy ground provision that turns varying shades of blue when cooked. Food-lovers of all ages are invited to come out and enjoy the free festivities which will include chefs and cooks demonstrating their culinary skills in creating dishes using the root vegetable as the main ingredient. Patrons will also have the opportunity to enjoy traditional juices, wines and pastries all made from or flavored by dasheen. For more information, visit www.visittobago.gov.tt
Divali
October 26
In Trinidad & Tobago, where the population is approximately 40 percent Indian, Divali—the Hindu Festival of lights—is celebrated by the young and old, rich and poor with colorful events and extravagant light displays. Marked as a national holiday in Trinidad & Tobago since 1966, Divali celebrations in Trinidad begin nine days before the actual event. During those nine nights there are performances by East Indian cultural practitioners, a folk theatre, an exhibition of Hinduism, nightly worship of Mother Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), lighting of myriad deyas, and a food court of mouth watering Indian and non-Indian vegetarian delicacies. The festival culminates with magnificent fireworks complemented by the thunder of bamboo cannons and the sparkle of “star-lights” in villages across the country. For more information on the event, visit www.gotrinidadandtobago.com
Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan and Jazz Festival
October 1-29
The destination’s national instrument, the steelpan—the only musical instrument created in the 20th century—takes center stage during the 10th annual Trinidad & Tobago Steelpan Jazz Festival. The event will feature a diverse menu of events that includes competitions highlighting local, regional and international steelpan bands; free workshops and a jazz concert showcasing live performances from national and international musicians. Part of the proceeds from this yearly event will be donated to a charitable trust established to assist students and staff of one of the oldest scholastic institutions in the Caribbean, Queen’s Royal College. For more information on the event, visit www.steelpanjazzfestival.com
