By Nyame-Kye Kondo
Special to the AFRO
The sounds of soca, calypso and reggae filled Druid Hill Park and the surrounding streets as the Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Carnival swept through Northwest Baltimore on July 11. Celebrating its 44th year, the annual festival featured vibrant floats and a lively parade of masqueraders dressed in colorful costumes adorned with feathers, beads and sequins.
The parade served as the centerpiece of a weekend-long celebration that began with J’ouvert festivities on July 10, drawing thousands of attendees from across the region.
Founded in 1981 by the West Indian Association of Maryland and spearheaded by Antiguan and Barbudan native Dr. Elaine Simon, the carnival celebrates a Caribbean tradition rooted in African and Indigenous cultures, while continuing to evolve across generations. During the colonial era, enslaved Africans blended artistic traditions from their homelands with European masquerade customs, using Carnival as both a form of cultural expression and resistance by satirizing colonial society.
Now organized by the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Baltimore in partnership with the DC Carnival Committee, the celebration became the Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Carnival in 2012 after Washington, D.C., could no longer financially support its annual carnival. Today, the event serves as a gathering place for the Caribbean diaspora while inviting the broader Baltimore community to enjoy the richness and diversity of Caribbean cultures.
For first time attendee Camryn Mason, a civil engineer, the festival was worth the effort. Mason spent the morning putting the finishing touches on a handmade crochet outfit before heading to the celebration.
“What a beautiful day!” Mason said. “It was wonderful to see all the people in costume, but it was even more enjoyable to be able to participate. Jumping with the band was definitely my favorite part.”
Mason’s fiancé, Dakaree Banks, said the festival exceeded their expectations.
“We are definitely going to be back next year,” Banks said. “I remember when the Caribbean Carnival was in Washington, D.C. I always wanted to attend but never got the chance. The Baltimore Carnival is about to become a tradition for us. It’s also inspired us to travel and experience other Caribbean carnivals around the world.”
Banks also pointed to one aspect of the event he believes could be improved.
“The amount of trash was kind of crazy,” Banks said. “Unfortunately, there was trash everywhere. I wish there was more of an effort to throw things away instead of just leaving things on the ground.”
For Trinidadian American Ashley Bedeau, the festival offered an opportunity to celebrate her Caribbean heritage while experiencing Baltimore Carnival for the first time.
“I’ve been to other carnivals, but it was my first time coming to Baltimore Carnival, and I found the experience exciting,” Bedeau said. “The colors and the passion, it was nice to see Caribbean communities celebrated as one. I also love that it’s a free event.”
Although scattered showers fell throughout the day, the rain did little to slow the celebration.
The parade made its way from Reisterstown Road into Druid Hill Park for the judging of the bands. Masqueraders continued dancing behind music trucks, while spectators lined the route and joined the bands behind their floats. Attendees could be seen waving the flags of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas Antigua, Guyana, Haiti and other Caribbean nations.
Vendors cooked and served fresh Caribbean food, beverages and niche items, as long time Carnival goers and families traversed the parade route in the expansive park.
As music continued to echo through Druid Hill Park and the judging of the bands concluded, the Baltimore Washington One Caribbean Carnival once again showcased the beautiful traditions, creativity and pride that have connected Caribbean communities in Baltimore and the surrounding region for over 40 years.
