The vibrant sounds, colours and rhythms of the Caribbean will once again fill the streets of New Orleans as Friends of Culture presents the 23rd Annual Bayou Bacchanal Caribbean Carnival on November 1-2, 2025.
This year’s celebration will honour Port of New Orleans Commissioner and former city councilman James J Carter Jnr as Grand Marshal, and will see the participation of cultural ambassadors from across the Caribbean, among them Mtima Solwazi, founder of The Oral Tradition ROOTS Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago; and Daniel Griffith, Steelpan Ambassador with the Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago.
The weekend begins with the All-White Feté Kickoff Party on Saturday, November 1, at 9 p.m. at the Congratulations Event Hall, 1900 Lafayette Street, Gretna, Louisiana; with live performances by The Revolution Band of Atlanta, and music by MC Wassey, DJ Tek and DJ Fire Flame.
On Sunday, November 2, the Bayou Bacchanal Parade will start from 11 a.m. from the Hilton Riverside Hotel’s driveway on Convention Center Blvd, and travel along Canal Street, Claiborne Avenue, and Orleans Avenue to reach historic Congo Square inside Louis Armstrong Park.
The Congo Square Carnival Festival runs from 12 p.m. to 6.30 p.m., with performances from St Lucian soca star Messiah and Pan Vibrations Steelband, vibrant costumes designed by Rachelle Lawrence of the Krewe of Bulbancha, and Caribbean cuisine from regional vendors.
“It’s an honour to bring the ROOTS Foundation and MITTCO to New Orleans,” said Mtima Solwazi. “The connection between Port of Spain and Congo Square reminds us that the music, language, and stories of our ancestors are still alive and uniting us today.”
“Bayou Bacchanal is a cultural bridge between the Caribbean and Louisiana,” said Marilyn LaForce, president of Friends of Culture. “It represents the rhythm of our shared history and the promise of collaboration that keeps our heritage thriving across generations.”
Bayou Bacchanal, the original Caribbean Carnival of New Orleans, celebrates 23 years of cultural unity and heritage, connecting Caribbean nations and the US Gulf Coast through art, music and cultural diplomacy.
