While the Caribbean community in the Twin Cities may not be as large as those in cities like Miami or New York, Minnesota is home to more than 8,000 Caribbean residents representing a wide range of islands, cultures and languages. One annual tradition brings them together: Carnival.
On Saturday, Caribbean Minnesotans will fill the streets — adorned with feathers, rhinestones, sequins and jewels — to honor generations of cultural pride.
Here’s what to know about Twin Cities Carifest, Black dance improvisation and new exhibits at the Minneapolis American Indian Center and Soo Visual Arts Center this weekend.
Celebrating Carnival
Carnival traces its roots to the late 18th century, when enslaved Africans in the Caribbean were excluded from masquerade balls hosted by European plantation owners. They created their own celebrations with music, dance and handmade costumes as an act of resistance against colonial oppression…