Caribbean Carnival in Saugerties

The local nonprofit organization Seasoned Gives will host its third annual Caribbean Carnival at Cantine Veterans Memorial Field in Saugerties on August 13.

Inspired by the traditional carnival celebrations of the West Indies, the festival is held to mark the “Crop Over” season, when the harvest has been completed. Caribbean carnivals have several common themes, each of them originating from the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival also known as “the Mother of Carnival.” Carnival tradition encompasses a number of disciplines including the Parade of the Bands; calypso, steelband, and soca music; the crowning of a Calypso monarch AKA Calypso King; and other traditions.

“Seasoned Gives is a 501(c)(3) organization located in the vibrant and rapidly transforming city of Kingston, New York, and serves all of Ulster County,” reads the Seasoned Gives website. “Our mission is simple, yet revolutionary: educate, incubate, and promote entrepreneurship for the BIPOC community and women, creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and social injustice through education, ownership, and self-sufficiency.”

The free event will feature a parade beginning at 11am and a carnival costume contest with a $1,000 grand prize and run through 7pm. music, and cultural events. It will also There will also be food vendors of authentic Caribbean food, live music, performers, a DJ, face painting, arts and crafts vendors, and games.

For further details, see the Seasoned Gives website.