(Oranjestad)—Carnaval season is back on this year and Aruba is celebrating its 70th edition of Carnaval with a bang! Officially having begun on November 11th 2023, this Carnaval season starts off with the spectacular Torch Parade (Fakkel); a night-time parade filled with lights, music and fun!
Historically, Fakkel consisted of a parade with people carrying actual flamed torches around. However, in the modern version of the parade, groups and parade walkers opt for a safer and sustainable method; electric torches!
That’s right, during Fakkel you mainly see parade walkers sporting an electric torch, completed with a group “uniform”. These uniforms are mostly personally-designed T-shirts sporting the names and themes of the year’s Carnaval groups participating in the Carnaval season. T-shirts are mostly decorated with glitter, sequence, cut-outs or even more light. You may also spot everyone carrying a light-up cup in their hand…filled with water, of course!
This year’s Fakkel Parade takes places tonight in the Down-Town area of Oranjestad. When you actually get to see the parade pass by depends where on the side of the road you are sitting. But don’t worry, chat up with some of the locals while you’re waiting for the show!
