For a better experience on Explore Cayman, Update your browser. 
Batabano - Cayman Carnival
Adult Parade, Saturday 6th May 2023
Junior Parade, Saturday 23rd April 2023
History
Launched in 1983 by the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman, Cayman Carnival Batabano is held annually during the first week of May and is a vibrant highlight in the Island’s entertainment calendar.
The festival’s name, Batabano, is a salute to Cayman’s turtling heritage as the word batabano refers to the tracks left in the sand by sea turtles as they crawl onto the beach to nest. Finding these tracks was – and still is – a reason to celebrate!
Today
Batabano is one of the biggest annual events in the Cayman Islands and is a Mardi Gras-like event featuring soca music (a type of calypso music with elements of soul that often features lyrics about life or politics), calypso bands, colourful costumes, dancing and a float parade.
2023 Batabano Events
Adult Parade - Saturday 6th May 2023, from 1pm.
See the streets of Cayman come alive with a kaleidoscope of music, dance and pageantry. Find yourself a good vantage spot along the route and watch as thousands of energetic revellers dance through the streets in spectacular costumes. You’ll even spot stilt walkers, acrobats and limbo dancers all grooving to the beat of live soca music.
The Adult Street Parade will start at 1pm from Public Beach and end on Seafarer's Way. The Food Festival will start from midday on Cardinal Avenue and Las' Lap will start at 6pm on Seafarer's Way!
This is a fantastic afternoon of Caribbean culture not to be missed!
2023 Batabano Junior Parade - Saturday 23rd April 2023, 1pm-6pm
Cayman Carnival Junior Batabano is a family-friendly festival for the islands’ youth. Introduced in 2002, this colourful cultural showcase marks its anniversary this year! Junior Carnival has grown from a small program that preceded the adult parade to its very own one-day event.
The children will parade from the Old Government Administrative Building (Glass House) into George Town in a mass of colour, music and creativity. They will return to the stage at the old Tower Building to be judged. After the parade, the fun continues with face painting, mask decorating, snow cones and many family fun activities.
The goal of Junior Carnival Batabano is to create a safe, fun and creative environment for youth to play mas (masquerade) and to teach the art of costume making for generations to come
Explore Cayman Magazine
The 2023 edition of the Explore Cayman magazine is a 144 page full colour magazine.
View Now
Explore Cayman App
The Explore Cayman app is the #1 app for the Cayman Islands and can be downloaded for free.
Learn More