Carifest is a Caribbean summer festival, an expression of West Indian culture, through music, food, performances and mas’ parade, in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota. Carifest, celebrated annually during the 4th weekend of July, is in its sixteenth year. It is one time of the year when all peoples from the Caribbean, be they from Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Haiti, St. Kitts, Belize, Cuba, Curacao, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent, Guadeloupe, Virgin Islands, or other islands, celebrate together in true Caribbean spirit. More amazing is that many of the youths welcome Carifest as part of their summer tradition.
Our goal is to become a noticed West Indian summer festival in the tradition of the West Indian carnival.
Festival history
Inaugurated in 1994 by a committed group who dreamed of a festival for and about Caribbean people in Minnesota, Carifest is put on each year by a crew of dedicated volunteers. The Carifest kickoff the weekend with a Friday night fete & show. The Saturday event is completely free and open to the public