Trinidad and Tobago’s annual carnival—held over Carnival Monday and Tuesday, the two days before Ash Wednesday—reached its climax Tuesday, with the island nation effectively shut down for the street celebrations. But this year, residents and performers said rising costs are making participation harder for people who traditionally take part, especially as ticket and costume prices climb. The Associated Press reported that ticket prices for premium parties were nearing $700 and that costumes in a popular masquerade band were in excess of $2,000, leaving some families no longer able to afford to participate.
The pressure on household budgets comes as Trinidad and Tobago’s unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in the third quarter of 2025, up from 3.8% the prior quarter, according to the latest government data cited by the AP. The reporting also tied higher consumer prices to new taxes and increased fees approved after the government took office last April, alongside job losses and closures of some businesses described by residents. Against that backdrop, community members said the spirit of carnival—built from participation by ordinary people—was being stretched.
Joshua Lamorelle, who runs a practice that takes him into impoverished communities, said he has been working to reduce barriers for children. He teaches stilt walking for free and told the AP it was “giving the kids an opportunity to be a part of something that is very hard for them to afford.” A few days before schools and businesses were scheduled to close for the street parade, Lamorelle was giving students final pointers, watching as 11-year-old Kanye Simmons secured stilts to his legs ahead of a junior parade.
Simmons said stilt-walking is his favorite pastime, even more so than video games, describing it as “very educational” and “very fun.” His mother, Chrisann Clarke, said she appreciated that Lamorelle’s push focuses on educating children on culture and the history of carnival, and she said she did not have to pay for her son’s participation, “as is customary.” Clarke said, “It’s actually great, because most parents are unable to afford it.”
Other performers described free or low-cost ways to keep carnival music and events within reach. Soca star Kimba Sorzano, who has a “maxi taxi,” offered free rides on some mornings to passengers on the condition that they listen to his music for the entire trip. The approach spread beyond his own promotion, with fast-food restaurants adding free breakfast to the commute, and Sorzano said in a quote to the AP that “Some people got priced out of the carnival, but at the same time we are the carnival,” adding that he believes the true spirit of carnival lives in the hearts of Trinidadians and Tobagonians.
Singer Patrice Roberts said she also tried to keep the celebrations open to more residents. The AP reported that Roberts organized a free soca music concert in late January that drew more than 10,000 people, and that in a video posted on social media she acknowledged the hardships facing some families. Roberts told viewers it was “for all the faithful fans, families and for anyone who still wants to feel the magic,” according to the AP’s account.
For Lamorelle, the effort has included creating space for children’s participation as well as education. He formed a carnival masquerade band for children and covered most of the costs himself, though a few sponsors helped. In Valencia, a small town in northeast Trinidad where Lamorelle is supported by community members, Nakita De Verteuil said his work keeps children “more occupied than just loitering and doing nonsense.” Her son, Josiah De Verteuil, who portrayed a “midnight robber” while on four-foot-high stilts, described Lamorelle as a mentor and said, “He is a very lovable person,” adding, “And to children, he is one of the best influencers.”
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is celebrated on the two days preceding Ash Wednesday and draws tens of thousands of people who dress for the street parade, according to the AP. The festival’s history dates to the 18th century when French settlers introduced celebrations but barred African enslaved people from participating, and by the 19th century formerly enslaved Africans rioted against British officials who tried to suppress the festivities. Today, residents and performers said the festival has evolved into a major event and a significant contributor to the economy, while they also worked to ensure that climbing costs did not cut off who can join.