Cayman Carnival Batabano 2019

Batabano 2019 Dates

Adult Parade – Saturday 4th May 2019

Junior Batabano – Saturday 10th-Sunday 11th May 2019

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.

2019 Batabano Main Events

Adult Parade - 4th May 2019, from 1pm

See the streets of Cayman come alive with a kaleidoscope of music, dance and pageantry. Party goers will depart at 1pm from Public Beach (SMB) and make their way to Harbour Drive in George Town.

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 parade finishes on Harbour Drive where the fun continues with the annual street party vibrating with live music by local artists and visiting bands. Cheer as the winners of the costume competition are announced, view the Art in the Heart exhibition and refuel at the food festival where you’ll find over 20 local restaurants and food vendors serving up an array of delicious local and international food.

This is a fantastic afternoon of Caribbean culture not to be missed!

Junior Batabano & Family Fun Day - 10th-11th May 2019

Cayman Carnival Junior Batabano is a family-friendly festival of fun where children parade through George Town in a mass of colour, music and creativity. The parade leaves from the old government building site glass house, weaves through Shedden Road, up Harbor drive, down Fort Street then along Edward Street and back to the glass house.

After the parade the family fun continues with a costume competition, face painting, mask decorating, local food, snow cones and many other family fun activities.

Click here for more information and the schedule of events for the Adult & Junior Batabano carnivals 2019.