The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of emancipation from slavery, held annually on the island of Antigua.

It is a thirteen-day festival of colorful costumes, beauty pageants, talent shows, and music.

[1] Antiguan Carnival replaced the Old Time Christmas Festival in 1957,[2][3] with hopes of inspiring tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.

One of the biggest events of Antiguan Carnival is that of the j'ouvert (or juvé), in which brass and steel bands perform for much of the island's population, starting early in the morning.

[6] On August 1, 1834, enslaved Africans were emancipated in Antigua and other British colonies, per the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

[6] Antigua was the only British colony in the Caribbean where the enslaved population was freed unconditionally, as opposed to via indentured servitude.

Traditions of the festival included both music and dance, especially related to masquerades and iron bands.

For instance, the "highland fling" was a common Christmas Festival dance performed by people wearing Scottish kilts, masks made of wire and bearing whips of cowhide.

[8] Dancers wearing banana leaves and animal horns took part in the "John Bull,"[9][10] while carolers paraded with long poles covered in lanterns (called "carol trees")[8] singing with accompaniment by the concertina.

Stilt dancers in robes, called the Moko Jumbie, Jumpa-Ben or Long Ghosts,[10] were also common, and were accompanied by kettle and bass drums, fife, triangle (cling-a-ching) and the boompipe, made from a plumbing joint one meter long.

[11] On June 3, 1953, a single-day carnival was organized as part of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation celebration.

Calypso, the oldest, has its roots in slavery; a common explanation of its origins is that it began as a way for slaves, who were forbidden to speak in the fields, to communicate with each other.

It is a polyglot, improvisational form that depends largely upon the skill of a soloist, (the calypsonian) who weaves the sounds of many cultures into a lyrical whole.

Antigua's carnival has multiple parades and costumed events called mas', short for masquerade.

[29][23] The term j'ouvert comes from a French creole word jour ouvert, meaning "daybreak".

[29] Troupes are awarded prizes and the Road March king is decided upon.List of Antiguan Mas' Troupes and Groups:[citation needed] The Mr & Miss Teenage Pageant (formerly the Teenage Pageant, Teen Splash, and Teen Explosion)[35] is a highly anticipated show during carnival.

Teens from different secondary schools around Antigua (specifically performing arts students)[29] compete against each other.

The teens compete against each other in the following judged segments: Best Interview, Uniform Evolution, Cultural Personality, Best Introduction Speech, and Best performing Talent.

[citation needed] Additionally, the following awards are given: Most Helpful, Most Congenial, Most Photogenic, and Best Promotional Video.

Contestants compete in the following judged segments: Interview, Swimwear, Talent, Carnival Costume, and Evening Wear.

Contestants from islands such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Croix, and Trinidad and Tobago enter every year.

[39][40] Contestants compete in the following judged segments: Interview, Swimwear, Talent, Modeling, and Evening Wear.

[41] Notable former Jaycees Caribbean Queens have been Kai Davis, Jermilla Kirwan, Shelana George, and Shermain Jeremy (all four of Antigua), as well as Princess Best (of Barbados).

The Calypso Monarch competition is a celebration and reflection of Antigua's African history and cultural heritage.

[29] According to the Antigua Barbuda Festivals Commission, the show has attracted crowds as large as 16,000 people.

[citation needed] Notable winners of the Party Monarch competition are: Claudette "CP" Peters (winning four times); Mervyn "Sleepy" Edwards (three times); and Toriano "Onyan" Edwards of the Burning Flames.

[29] Panorama is a large event during Carnival, as the show has gained massive public interest over the years.

[61] The winner was Hell's Gate, the world's oldest operating steel orchestra (founded 1945).

[61][58] Other steel bands that have performed at Panorama include: Gemonites, Harmonites, Ebonites, Halcyon, and East Vybes.

[67][68] Pre-carnival events such "Blue Jeans", "White Fete, and "Red Eye" are very popular themed parties that usually take place over the weekends of July leading up to carnival.