Information Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Oct. 23, 2025: The rhythm of the Caribbean will as soon as once more pulse by the streets of New Orleans this November as Associates of Tradition presents the twenty third Annual Bayou Bacchanal Caribbean Carnival, a two-day celebration of heritage, music, and unity going down November 1–2, 2025.
This yr’s festivities honor Port of New Orleans Commissioner and former Metropolis Councilman James J. Carter, Jr., who will function Grand Marshal, recognizing his contributions to civic management and cultural diplomacy. Becoming a member of him are particular visitors and cultural ambassadors from throughout the Caribbean, together with Mtima Solwazi, Founding father of The Oral Custom ROOTS Basis of Trinidad & Tobago, and Daniel Griffith, Steelpan Ambassador with The Musical Devices of Trinidad & Tobago Firm, (MITTCO). Their participation highlights the Caribbean’s enduring international affect by artwork, rhythm, and storytelling.
A Weekend of Music, Mas, and Caribbean Taste
The celebration kicks off on Saturday, November 1st, with the All-White Feté Kickoff Social gathering at Congratulations Occasion Corridor, 1900 Lafayette Avenue, Gretna, Louisiana, starting at 9:00 p.m. The occasion will characteristic electrifying performances by The Revolution Band of Atlanta and DJ units by MC Wassey, DJ Tek, and DJ Hearth Flame, setting the stage for a weekend of nonstop soca, dancehall, and steelpan power.
The primary occasion – the Bayou Bacchanal Parade – begins on Sunday, November 2nd at 11:00 a.m., departing from the Hilton Riverside Lodge driveway on Conference Middle Blvd. The parade route travels alongside Canal Avenue, Claiborne Avenue, and Orleans Avenue earlier than culminating on the historic Congo Sq. inside Louis Armstrong Park, the birthplace of New Orleans’ vibrant Afro-Caribbean soundscape.
From midday to six:30 p.m., the Congo Sq. Carnival Pageant will remodel the park right into a feast for the senses, full with reside performances from St. Lucian soca star Messiah and Pan Vibrations Steelband. Revelers may take pleasure in genuine Caribbean delicacies from native and regional distributors and admire dazzling carnival costumes designed by Rachelle Lawrence of the Krewe of Bulbancha.
Honoring Heritage and Constructing Bridges
“It’s an honor to convey the ROOTS Basis and MITTCO to New Orleans,” mentioned Mtima Solwazi. “The connection between Port of Spain and Congo Sq. reminds us that the music, language, and tales of our ancestors are nonetheless alive and uniting us right now.”
Marilyn LaForce, President of Associates of Tradition, emphasised the competition’s deeper mission: “Bayou Bacchanal is a cultural bridge between the Caribbean and Louisiana. It represents the rhythm of our shared historical past and the promise of collaboration that retains our heritage thriving throughout generations.”
Now celebrating its twenty third yr, Bayou Bacchanal holds the excellence of being New Orleans’ authentic Caribbean Carnival, connecting Caribbean nations and the U.S. Gulf Coast by inventive expression, cultural diplomacy, and the spirit of freedom that defines the area’s legacy.
Help and Group Partnerships
This yr’s Bayou Bacchanal is made potential by the beneficiant assist of sponsors and companions, together with Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans & Firm, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Basis, Workplace of Sheriff Susan Hutson, Ashé Cultural Arts Middle, Ujamaa EDC, and NolaCaribe. The organizers additionally expressed gratitude for the volunteer service of the LSU Caribbean College students Affiliation, whose participation displays the following technology’s dedication to preserving and celebrating Caribbean id.
As New Orleans prepares to as soon as once more embrace the power of Carnival season, Bayou Bacchanal 2025 stands as a residing testomony to the enduring affect of Caribbean tradition — a colourful, musical, and unifying pressure that continues to form the heartbeat of the Crescent Metropolis.
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