Carnival Calabar is a socio-cultural event that impacts on the economic lives of the people of Cross River state and its environs. It is a unique display of African heritage showcase through music, dance, drama, and visual creativity which is reflected in the design of floats, costumes and make- up. A great degree of research, intellectual creativity and discipline goes into the interpretation of
the carnival theme. The expression of the theme is pure magic, the parade presentation can only be described as theatre on the road. The dazzling colours, dexterous dance steps, gigantic costumes, brilliant make-up, the swaggar and are unmatched by anything else in Africa. Carnival Calabar is a 3day event preceded by three adult dry runs and the children’s dry-run. December 25th kicks off the main carnival events with the Night of the Kings and Queens of Mas competition. (this is the night that the gigantic glamorous mascot of the carnival bands are adjudged on Stage at the Stadium. December 26th begins with a Cultural Parade that include the 18 LGAs in CRS and other States in Nigeria participating. The Junior parade of the bands (Children’s Carnival) flags off at 12noon at the end of the Cultural Parade. The Junior parade of the bands is an exciting display by children from the five carnival bands and Schools. The future of the carnival can be seen in the passion exhibited by these minors. The Adult Parade of the Bands known as Africa’s Biggest Street flags off at the millennium park at 12noon on December 27th each year. His Excellency the Governor, His Wife and a host of VVIPs do the ceremonial flag off of the road march. The Cross River State Steel Band herald’s the road march with the lead band following. Carnival Calabar is the highlight of the Annual 32 day Calabar Festival which runs from November 30th to January 1st. The carnival is the largest Socio-cultural event in Africa with over 60, 000 costumed revellers, thousands of spectators lining the 12km carnival strip and over 50 million television viewers on NTA Network, NTA international, AIT, CRBC and continental TV Station (Africa magic, channel O and MTV Base).
