Calabar Carnival 2024 is one of the most famous annual events in Nigeria and the 2024 calendar is out! Here is everything you need to know about Africa’s biggest festival.
What is the Calabar Carnival All About?
This festival is known as Africa’s Biggest Street Party and is a major annual event in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
A celebration of Nigeria’s diverse culture, featuring live performances, themed parades, cultural showcases as well as the extravagant and flamboyant city decorations which commemorates the Christmas celebration fused with rich African heritage through a party theme which is decided each year to guide the festivities.
How Long Does Calabar Festival Last?
The Calabar Carnival holds every December 1st up until January 1st, and was created by the former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, in 2004, to promote tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa. The main aim for the Calabar Carnival is including aspects of local heritage and culture and at the same time strengthening the capacity of the locals to participate in a beneficial way as regards significant impacts on the local economy and tourism in Cross River State. 
What is Going To Happen At The 2024 Calabar Festival?
The 2024 Calabar Carnival is enough proof that this celebration has evolved so much so that it is now Africa’s Biggest Street Party and Nigeria’s strongest tourism brand.
The Calabar Carnival 2024 theme is “Our Shared Prosperity”. It features various entertainment events and performances from both local and international artists every evening. Essay competitions, Football matches, Fashion shows, Pageantry, Boat regattas, and the Bikers parade.
Thirty days of exciting events, colorful activities, entertaining and different competitions take place and huge cash prizes are won and unprecedented yearly participation by close to a million people from all over the world.
Rehearsals for the 2024 carnival parade holds as early as October 2024, to prepare participants for the main event where competing bands will showcase elaborate costumes and performances along a 12-km route.
A festive season that started at the turn of the Millennium has grown in popularity, scope and participation year in, year out.
It is indisputably the biggest multi-dimensional, tourist, leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa.
Names of Bands At the Calabar Carnival 2024
You definitely do not want to miss the famous storytelling parade bands listed below which are sure constants to this year’s event, geared towards celebrating Nigeria’s rich culture.
- Masta Blasta
- Seagull,
- Diamond
- Passion 4
- Calas Vegas
- Bayside
- Freedom, etc.
You don’t want to miss out on the 30days of bliss and fun filled activities. Below is the schedule to keep you informed.
2024 Calabar Carnival Calendar
- Essay Completion – 18th October 2024.
- 1st Dry Run- 20th October 2024.
- 2nd Dry Run 17th November 2024.
- 3rd/Final Dry Run – 3rd December 2024.
- Junior Dry Run- 15th December 2024.
- Bikers Dry Run – 22nd December 2024.
- Cultural Carnival – 26th December 2024.
- Junior Carnival – 27th December 2024.
- Calabar Carnival (Africa’s Biggest Street Party) – 28th December 2024.
- Bikers Carnival – 29th December 2024.
- Street Party – 30th December 2024.
Written By Iripia Omoyi
