Holidays | VisitAruba News

The history behind the Bacchanal: Aruba’s Carnival bible

What started as a school project turned into Aruba’s Carnival bible. The Bacchanal is currently Aruba’s official magazine of Carnival, but was originally created by Friedrich van der Hans as his graduation thesis.

Line-up for the Children’s & Youth Calypso and Roadmarch contest announced

This year’s Aruba’s Children’s & Youth Calypso and Roadmarch contest will be bigger than last year’s competition. This year’s contest on Saturday January 18th will feature 14 participants in the children category and 12 participants in the youth category. The public is invited to show their support for all the participants.

Prins & Panchos titles are awarded for Aruba’s Carnival season

The Prins and Panchos in the categories Child, Youth and Adult were elected during an evening filled with humoristic sketches where the contestant were trying to prove that they are worth becoming the next Prins and Pancho for Aruba’s Carnival 2014. The new Prins & Panchos will rule the events and parades and will present his Queen to the people on her election, and will accompany her where ever she appears.

Aruba’s Carnival Season 2014 has started with the Torch Parade

Aruba was looking forward to the first Carnival parade, highlighting the start of Aruba’s Carnival season and the many parades, pageants and musical contests/events that will follow. With nearly 10,000 people in 10 carnival groups, the Torch Parade was a huge success and an exciting opening of Aruba’s 60th Carnival season.

TOB Carnival Group crowned their child queens for Carnival 60

TOB Carnival Group recently crowned two of their Carnival princesses during a special event. The TOB Carnival Queens will represent TOB during the Carnival Queen Elections.

Small changes announced in Aruba’s Carnival Parade Routes

Recently Aruba’s Police Department and Stichting Arubaanse Carnaval (SAC) announced that three Carnival parades will have some changes in their original route. Changes in the route are announced for the children’s parade in Oranjestad, the grand parade in San Nicolas and the grand parade in Oranjestad.

Carnival 60 kicks off with the first Parade on Saturday January 11th 2014

The first Carnival Parade of this year will take place on Saturday 11th 2014. The Torch parade will be the first parade highlighting the start of the upcoming parades, contests and queen elections.

Sasaki Highway rotunda joins in the holiday festivities with brilliant light decorations, courtesy of Divi Resorts Aruba

Many traffic rotundas have been brightly dressed for the holidays as part of the “Bo Bario” project, the latest to join was the massive roundabout on the Sasaki Highway, which was adopted by Divi Properties Aruba this year.

San Nicolas rotunda last to join in the holiday festivities with themed decorations and brilliant lights

With a flip of a switch, San Nicolas rotunda lit up for the holidays. The event was celebrated with music, local treats and beverages making the lighting of the final rotunda on Aruba an exceptional experience.

The new rotunda at the Reina Beatrix International Airport of Aruba also following the holiday trend, adorned with a brilliant display of lights to brighten the international collection of flags

With a flip of a switch, a sleek and contemporary display of lights illuminate the rotunda, welcoming visitors on arrival. The simple and stylish holiday decor does not intrude on the impressive design of the traffic circle; instead it compliments it very nicely.

Bucuti & Tara Resorts and Aruba Tourism Authority turn the Paradera Rotunda into a magnificent, merry sight

Decorated in honor of Aruban culture and folklore, the Paradera Rotunda becomes another part of the “Bo Bario” project, turning traffic intersections into focal points for the holiday season.

Aruban traditional dish, ayaca, perfect for a quick lunch or party treat, available for a limited time

This seasonal treat, made only at the end of the year, can be found in most supermarkets on the island. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to sample this authentic bit of regional cuisine.