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local Thursday 5 January 2023
Aruba’s 69th Carnival to begin this Saturday

ORANJESTAD – A few weeks ago, the foundation Oranjestad and San Nicolas are the stages
in charge of Aruba’s Carnival, SMAC began its for this display of unique designed costumes,
meetings to organize Aruba’s 69th Carnival. This amazing ambience and upbeat, local music.
week they announced that all stakeholders are The festival is for everybody accessible and safe
organizing for the torch parade which will take to visit. Behind the screens there is an enormous
place on the 7th of January. organization that makes sure that this festival
runs smoothly. The police, inspection depart-
Our island is known for its white-sanded beach- ment, Red Cross volunteers, garbage service
es and perfect climate, but there is one time in and many others work day and night to make
the year that Aruba draws thousands of visitors: sure that carnival is a success. All the trailers February 12: Big Children Parade in San Nicolas;
carnival. The visitor’s experience during carni- are being carefully inspected before they are Burning of the Momito;
val season will be amazing. Sensational musical allowed to participate as well as the vehicles February 16: Lighting Parade;
events, queen elections and different parades that pull them. After each parade the streets February 17: Carnival is Life (Jump In);
are all part of this spectacular phenomenon. are being cleaned and road blocks are being February 18: Big Parade in San Nicolas;
taken away so next day normal traffic flow oc- February 19: Big Parade in Oranjestad and Burn-
Carnival is part of Aruba’s history and cultural curs. The several organizations and institutions ing of Momo.
heritage; actually it is the largest cultural festival work together with the official carnival organi-
on the island. For the islanders it is a way to ex- zation SMAC. The official sequence for the groups during the
press their creativity and break away from the torch parade will be as follows:
daily buzz of life: Dancing to the rhythm of local This year’s calendar indicates the following: Empire Carnival Group
music while enjoying the ambiance of the pub- January 8: Prins and Pancho election; TOB Carnival Group
lic are some of the ingredients of this festival. January 13: Children and Youth Queen elec- Infinity Carnival Group
tion; Royal Carnival Group
January 14: Carnival Queen and Mrs. Carnival Los Laga Bai Carnival Group
election; Champagne Carnival Group. q
January 22: LGBTQ elections Brunch with a
steelpan and drums showdown;
January 27: Caiso Monarch final;
January 28: Soca final;
January 29: Balloons parade;
February 3: Hebbe Hebbe;
February 4: Children’s Parade in North; Grand
Tumba Contest;
February 5: Transfer and Command; Big Chil-
dren Parade in Oranjestad;
February 8: Sunset Parade;
February 10: Jouve City;
February 11: Jouvert Mortning and Lighting Pa-
rade;

Aruba National Park Foundation:

Aruba’s nature is a winner!

ORANJESTAD – Aruba Na- among so many different
tional Park Foundation is attraction and experiences
starting the New Year with from across the Caribbean
some great news. and we couldn’t be more
grateful to have made it
“We are thrilled to share to the TOP 10! We want to
that Parke Nacional Arikok say THANK YOU to every-
is one of the winners in the one who voted for us! We
2023 USA TODAY 10Best couldn’t do it without you
Readers’ Choice Travel and nature can’t do it with-
Awards contest for Best out you.”
Caribbean Attraction”, the
park posted on their social Aruba’s Arikok National
media account. “We’re Park peaked at number 2
honored to be recognized on the list of 10 Best Carib-
bean Attractions, behind dramatic coastline. Visitors at number four) and Sint
Belmont Estate in Grenada. to the park can climb into Maarten (St. Maarten 12
According to 10Best, “a ruins of an old gold mine, Metre Regatta at number
panel of experts partnered search for Arawak petro- 3).
with 10Best editors to pick glyphs or go snorkeling in a
the initial nominees, and natural pool”, according to “Thank you for helping us
the top 10 winners were de- 10Best. protect, preserve and re-
termined by popular vote.” store nature in Aruba for
“Covering 20 percent of The list also includes sister generations to come,”
the island of Aruba, Arikok islands in the Kingdom of Arikok National Park
National Park features the Netherlands, Curaçao concluded.q
cacti-covered hills and a (Shete Boka National Park