Folks who live in the Caribbean are pretty laid back – except during Carnival. Then they let loose. The Caribbean Carnival was born in Trinidad, where it is known as “The Mother of Carnival.” The glorious event is based on traditions of culture, folklore, and religion. As you’d expect, there’s a parade with plenty of calypso music, a Calypso King, and a steel drum competition.

Seemingly, every Caribbean Island has its own carnival, and they take place in different months. For example, for the US Virgin Islands, Carnival in St. Croix is held during late December and early January, St. John is late June and early July, and St. Thomas celebrates in April and May. If you love Carnival, you can hop from one to another, right down the island chain. But if you can’t visit the Caribbean, don’t worry – you can experience Carnival in plenty of other places, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands.