Aruba offers many different events throughout the calendar year. Aside from events that often accompany national holidays and traditional celebrations, your Aruba vacation may well coincide with international competitions and tournaments, sailing regattas and other sporting events. Furthermore annual film, music, art, and food festivals are held, along with other weekly cultural events.
One of Aruba's most famous events is the Aruba Carnival, which includes weeks of events that feature colorful decorated floats of all shapes and sizes, contagiously throbbing music, and parades with luxuriously costumed groups of celebrants of all ages, Carnival Queen elections and musical events such as the famous Tumba Festival and Calypso and Roadmarch competition. See the list Below for the Aruba Carnival Schedule and other helpful event lists.
Cultural Events
Betico Day
Official holiday in memory of G.F. (Betico ) Croes, on January 25th, we commemorate the birthday of the late Aruban political leader, Gilberto François (Betico) Croes. He helped the island attain the "Status Aparte". With its new status Aruba was given autonomy from the Netherlands Antilles, and was allowed to function as a commonwealth within the Dutch kingdom.
Aruba Carnival Season
Main Page: Carnival
Carnival means weeks of events that bring you colorfully decorated floats, contagiously throbbing music, luxuriously designed costumed groups of celebrants of all ages, King & Queen elections, electrifying Jump Ups, Torch Light Parades that wind their way through the streets at night, the Jouvert Morning Pajama Parade, the Children's Parades and finally the Grand Parade! Officially starting in November, the majority of events, celebrations and parades are held in January and February until the Burning of King Momo, marking the end of Carnival Season. After the Burning of King Momo the entire island goes on hiatus, known as Carnival Monday (official day of rest).