The World of Carnival meets ... ...the world’s most beautiful islands

Victoria is set to revisit its multi-ethnic origins when the ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ comes to town. With participants from several countries with famous carnivals of their own, the Victoria Carnival brings the capital to life with a grand, open-air restaurant featuring food – and music – from across the world as local hotels, in coordination with various participating countries, set up al fresco restaurants showcasing their particular culture’s culinary skills. Carnaval International de Victoria is about to celebrate its fifth birthday and Seychelles is already in celebration mood. An explosion of colours, a multitude of joyous sounds reflecting different cultures is promised to delight the excited onlookers.

Loyal major players Brazil, Notting Hill and China will come out more spectacularly to secure a place in the top three ranks in the international delegations category. In the fourth edition of the carnival, China clinched the best international float accolade. Notting Hill delegation that had won the best float title every single year since the birth of Seychelles Carnaval International de Victoria, in 2011 had to contend with second position.

Cambodia, Indonesia, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Reunion Island have already confirmed their participation, this will not be their first time but they will have their own surprises in store. More delegations will be confirming their participation in the upcoming weeks. For the first time ever, there will be a cultural element marrying with the carnival element. Quality will reign over quantity in terms of what will be expected of international press flocking down for the 2015 edition of this monumental event.

As popular local artist Joe Samy sings in one of his songs ‘Seychelles will wear its most beautiful dress’ during the weekend of April 24 to 26. Decorations will hang from trees to signal this upcoming event and the streets will be crammed in every corner with the buzzing crowd that will anxiously await for the floats!!!!

Philosophy behind the Carnival in the Seychelles

When the Seychelles islands were first settled, it was by a blend of individuals of different ethnicity, customs and ways of life. Throughout its history and to this very day, Seychelles has continued to be a melting-pot of peoples from the four corners of the earth who have each contributed their particular thread to the fabric of this vibrant yet peaceful society, adding to it and being, themselves, subtly transformed in return.

Against this background of multi-culturalism, diversity and the coming together of peoples, it is fitting that Seychelles should be, once again, the focal point of an annual ‘Carnaval des Carnavals’ – bringing representatives from the world’s carnivals to the islands to participate in three days of celebration.

This dynamic event will be an ideal forum for each participating country to raise its profile by showing off its own individual colors to the world’s press and, also, contribute to the new melting pot of the ‘Carnaval des Carnavals’.

Seychelles Carnaval International de Victoria takes place in its capital, echoing the time when Seychelles first became a melting pot of different cultures from the four corners of the planet.

3 Days Program

Official Opening of the Carnival

The official opening of the carnival, is attended by visiting dignitaries from the various participating countries and takes place on a day when festivities continues throughout the night.

Swelled by sailors from international navies whose visits coincides with the 3-day carnival, this spectacular event then moves into the Carnival Day featuring a Carnival Procession of participants’ floats on a circular itinerary through the streets of the capital and against a backdrop of music, dance and colorful costumes. The event has its very own carnival theme song, composed by local artists to reflect the country’s three national languages: Creole, English and French, as well as music from the participants’ countries.

The local population and visitors are encouraged to participate in the spirit of the carnival and its various activities. Seychelles adds its own floats to the procession featuring the attributes of its main islands, so completing the picture of a vibrant international event celebrating the fact that Seychelles remains an important, harmonious melting pot of peoples from across the world.

Day 1 - Victoria the ‘Melting Pot of Cultures’

The three-day Carnival starts with a large, open alfresco restaurant-styled activity when the City of Victoria is turned into an entertainment venue with music from across the world and with food from the four corners of the planet. Participating countries are encouraged to work with local hotels to set up alfresco restaurants in Victoria to showcase the different cultures’ culinary skills and delights and to sell their products to the public. Music and food sets the stage for the theme of the Carnival - ‘the melting pot of cultures’. The Victoria City celebrations takes place over a whole day and night during which the concept of ‘the melting pot of cultures’ truly comes alive.

The Opening Ceremony: The official opening of the Seychelles ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ takes place in the afternoon of Day 1. Visiting dignitaries, representing various participating countries, are invited to be present to witness the official launch of the Seychelles Carnival which takes place in the centre of Victoria.

Day 2 - Carnival Day

The Carnival Day itself is where floats gather at the Stadium at Roche Caiman, and moves in a Carnival Procession towards Victoria. The Carnival procession then tours the main Victoria roads. The procession follows a circular loop with school children, spectators and international & local press lining the streets from start to finish. Music and carnival costumes are in line with the different national floats.

After the carnival procession, the carnival participants take the show to Victoria, supported by the local population who joins in the spirit of the carnival with their own costumes and accessories.

Day 3 - Fun Day

The Carnival Floats assembles around Victoria where the different participants mingles with the local tourist population and with Seychellois coming from all over Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and the other islands. Food stalls and beverage outlets are set about the Stadium where an ‘all day musical show’ is performed by Seychellois artists and by musical & cultural groups from the various participating countries.

A prize giving ceremony for the different float categories is done prior to the closing of the Carnaval international de Victoria

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