Our History
History of the Carnival
In April 1992, Tallahassee witnessed it’s first Caribbean Cultural Festival, which primarily was an indoor event. Organizers then saw that such an event had a unifying force in the community – and almost immediately began planning a bigger outdoor event – modelled after the famous Carnivals of the Caribbean. From there, the seeds of Tallahassee’s largest cultural extravaganza were sown.
Caribbean Carnival opened Tallahassee to a new concept in cultural programming – one which took a bold approach to international cultural celebrations by bringing genuine performances to the streets. This event has transformed the community and has helped inspired many other cultural celebrations – all apealling to Tallahassee’s multi-culturalism.
The first events were held in May – a time thought to generate more participation by out-of-town visitors and a time which heralded the beginning of warm summer months. But this also meant less participation from other countries and U.S. cities, as similar events in those areas meant fewer resources (such as troupes and other performers) would be diverted to a virtually new and unknown event in Tallahassee. The first two events were held at the Leon County Fairgrounds, but this location proved a logistical challenge as it meant a long, heat-enduring journey for the Carnival Parade. Consequently, the event was rescheduled to August and moved to a more central location in the heart of downtown Tallahassee and has been held at the Adams Street Commons (west of City Hall) since 1997.
After thoughtful consideration, the event was also rescheduled to August so that Tallahassee would better benefit from the participation of traveling troupes and performers. It also meant increased local participation as the event was held right before the Fall semester.
Over the years, Talafesta (TALLAFESTA) has impacted the region economically to the tune of nearly $15 million while it attracted participants from various Caribbean countries and cities across the United States and Canada. From the Mighty Sparrow (Trinidad), and Vernee Johnson (“Fresh Prince of Belair”), to Shabba Ranks (Jamaica) and Jam Band (U.S. Virgin Islands), and to revellers from the Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, TALLAFESTA has been instrumental in bringing Tallahassee to the crossroads of a multi-cultural rennaisance of sorts. As Caribbean Carnival magic captivited Tallahassee, the fascination spilled over in to the community – where ‘jerked’ chicken began appearing on local menus and calypso music pulsated through store intercom systems. The Caribbean had finally arrived in Tallahassee, and TALLAFESTA has been in the forefront of that movement.
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