CARNIVAL 101
First-Timer’s Guide
New to mas? Start here for sizing, payments, travel, and your first day on the road.
YOUR FIRST TRIP · TAKE OFF 2027
Coming to Trinidad for Carnival?
You do not need to know all the Carnival terms to get started. Choose a costume you love, then use this checklist to plan your trip with help from Showtime.
1. Before you book your trip
Review your selected costume's inclusions and total price. Do not assume flights, accommodation, airport transfers or transport to the meeting point are part of your costume registration; confirm your arrangements separately before booking.
Ask the team about your planned travel dates and collection timing before committing to non-refundable travel.
Read the travel guidance →2. Choose your costume and register
A section is a costume collection; a tier is a version of that costume. Compare the photos and confirm the included pieces for the option you want.
TTD 800 deposit is required within 48 hours of ordering. Your place is secured by payment. All payments are final and non-refundable. Final balances and sizes are due January 1, 2027.
You can pay your deposit through Partial.ly or pay in full online by debit or credit card. You do not need to travel to Trinidad to pay.
Use the sizing guide before choosing measurements. The store displays a currency selector; check the payment currency and final total before paying.
Get help with sizing →3. Arrange collection after arrival
Mas Camp is at 51 French Street, Port of Spain. Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday, 2:30–7:00 PM; Saturday, 1:00–7:00 PM, Trinidad local time.
These are opening hours, not your costume collection appointment. Section-specific collection dates are still to be announced. Confirm when your costume is ready and what you need to bring before travelling to camp.
Find Mas Camp ↗4. Get ready for the road
Keep your registration confirmation accessible and check My Registration for your costume and payment details.
Meeting location, reporting time and section-specific road-day instructions are still to be announced. Contact Showtime before the event to confirm where to go, what to carry and how to reach the team if you need help.
Open My Registration →New to mas? Welcome — you're exactly who this page is for.
Whether you're flying in from Toronto, London, Miami, or Lagos, or you're Trinidadian and finally ready to play with your first band, this guide walks you through everything: the language, the schedule, what you're actually paying for, how to get here, and what to expect once you land. By the time you're done reading, you'll walk onto the road feeling like a Carnival veteran, not a tourist.
Read the guide by chapter
Each chapter answers one question on its own page — handy to send to a friend who is still deciding.
- Carnival 2027 datesMonday 8 and Tuesday 9 February 2027, plus every deadline between now and the road.
- How much it costsReal Take Off 2027 prices by tier, the deposit, payment plans and what is not included.
- What’s includedCostume, food, premium drinks, security, music trucks, paramedics, restrooms — and what is not.
- Monday vs TuesdayWhat you wear, what happens and how to pace yourself on each of the two road days.
- Getting to TrinidadFlights into Piarco, where to stay in Port of Spain, weather, money, safety and getting around.
- What to packThe road-day checklist, what to leave at home, and what to bring for the rest of the trip.
- Carnival glossaryPlaying mas, J’ouvert, the tiers, Monday Wear, crossing the stage, fetes and more, explained.
- First-timer FAQSizing, pickup, paying from overseas, travelling solo, refunds and every other question we get asked.
- Playing from abroadWhat it costs in USD, how the Partial.ly monthly plan works, what to book first and what happens when you land.
The Glossary
Tap any term to learn what it means.
The act of participating in Carnival by joining a masquerade band — wearing a costume and taking to the road (parading through the streets) with music, dancing, and thousands of fellow masqueraders. "Mas" comes from "masquerade." When someone asks "You playing mas this year?" — this is what they mean.
Pronounced "joo-vay" (from the French "jour ouvert," meaning "daybreak"). This is Carnival's opening celebration, starting in the pre-dawn hours of Carnival Monday. It's a separate, more raw experience from Monday and Tuesday's Road March — think body paint, mud, powder, and pure unfiltered energy as the city wakes up to soca and steelpan. J'ouvert is optional and typically booked separately from your costume band.
Choose from Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum, where available in your section. Each tier offers a different costume configuration. Compare the photos and listed pieces on your section page, then check the current price and available options in the store before registering.
The relaxed, casual outfit worn on Carnival Monday — separate from your full Tuesday costume. Monday is about comfort: think band-branded t-shirts, shorts or bikini bottoms, sneakers. Many bands (Showtime included) provide or sell coordinated Monday Wear so the whole band still looks unified, just dialed down from Tuesday's full costume energy.
The moment your section parades across the official judging/performance stage (typically at the Queen's Park Savannah or another designated stage point), performing for the judges, cameras, and crowds. It's the iconic, photo-defining moment of Carnival Tuesday — the culmination of everything you've prepared for.
Shorthand for the actual parade route and the whole experience of being out in it — "seeing you on the road" just means seeing you out there playing mas. When someone says "how was the road?" afterward, they mean the whole day, start to finish.
A carnival party — there are dozens throughout the season, separate from your costume band and separate from Carnival Monday and Tuesday themselves. Fetes are optional, ticketed events happening in the weeks leading up to Carnival. You don't need to attend any fetes to play mas with Showtime, but many masqueraders treat them as part of the full carnival trip.
Your Carnival Journey
From registration to the road — here's the full path, start to finish.
Register
Pick your section and submit your online registration.
Pay Deposit
Secure your spot with a deposit. International masqueraders can use Partial.ly to pay online and split the balance monthly.
Confirm Sizing
Use the sizing guide to choose your measurements. Ask Showtime for help before ordering if you are unsure. Final sizes are due January 1, 2027.
Pay Your Balance
Clear your remaining balance by the final deadline — in full, or via your monthly Partial.ly plan.
Get Your Boarding Pass
Once you're paid in full, your QR boarding pass is generated and emailed to you automatically.
Collect Your Costume
Bring your boarding pass and ID to Mas Camp during your section's collection window.
Play Mas
Monday and Tuesday on the road. This is what it's all been building toward.
Carnival Monday — "The Warm-Up"
Vibe:
Relaxed, playful, social. Less about the costume, more about the music and the reunion energy of the whole band coming together for the first time.
What you wear:
Monday Wear (not your full costume) — comfortable, band-branded, made for dancing for hours.
What happens:
The band gathers, trucks roll out, and you parade a shorter, more casual route than Tuesday. Many masqueraders treat Monday as the "practice round" — get familiar with the truck, the crew, and the flow before the big day.
Energy level:
High, but easy. Think of it as the warm-up act before the headliner.
Pro tip for first-timers: Pace yourself on Monday. Hydrate, eat, and don't blow all your energy before Tuesday even starts — the road is a marathon, not a sprint.
Carnival tuesday — "The main event"
Vibe:
Full spectacle. This is what the postcards are made of.
What you wear:
Your full costume — the one you registered and were fitted for
What happens:
The band takes to the road early morning in full costume, parades the official route, and crosses the stage for judging and performance. Expect to be on the road for eight hours or more, so this is as much a physical event as a celebration — the paramedics, water stations, and mobile restrooms built into your package exist because of exactly how long and how full-on this day is.
Energy level:
Maximum. This is the day the whole year has been building toward.
What Your Payment Actually Covers
Costume
Your full Carnival Tuesday costume, designed and fitted to your section — yours to keep.
Food
Chef-curated meals served on the road across both Monday and Tuesday, so you're fueled without ever leaving the party.
Premium Drinks
Top-shelf bars stocked and staffed along the route — water, juice, and premium alcohol included, all day.
Security
A dedicated, professional security detail moving with the band at all times, so you can fully let go and enjoy the road.
Music Trucks
Immaculate, high-powered sound trucks with top DJs and live acts — the heartbeat of the entire band.
Paramedics
On-route medical staff and first-aid support, because your safety is never left to chance.
Mobile Restrooms
Clean, accessible restroom facilities positioned along the route — no scrambling to find a bathroom mid-parade.
Getting to Trinidad: What to Know Before You Book
Tap a topic for the details.
Piarco International Airport (POS) is Trinidad's main international airport, with direct or connecting flights from major hubs in North America, the UK, and increasingly from the Caribbean and Latin America. Flights from Toronto, New York, Miami, and London are the most common routes for our international masqueraders. Mas Camp, our costume distribution point at 51 French Street in Port of Spain, is about a 30–35 minute drive from the airport without traffic.
Carnival is Trinidad's busiest travel season of the year. Flights and accommodation fill up and prices climb the closer you get to the date, so booking early is the single easiest way to save money and guarantee availability.
Most international masqueraders base themselves in or around Port of Spain, close to the Carnival action and within easy reach of Mas Camp. We don't have official hotel partners, but past masqueraders have had great experiences at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, the Hilton Trinidad, Brix Hotel, and the Courtyard by Marriott — all solid, well-located options. Accommodation books out quickly in the months before Carnival, so the earlier you lock in a place to stay, the more choice and better pricing you'll have.
Carnival falls during Trinidad's dry season, so expect hot, sunny days, generally in the eighty-to-ninety-degree Fahrenheit range, with high humidity. Sunscreen, a hat, and a portable phone charger are essentials. Evenings cool down only slightly, so light, breathable clothing off the road is your best friend.
Port of Spain is a lively, welcoming city, and as with any destination, ordinary travel common sense applies: keep your valuables secure, stay with your group, and let your section's WhatsApp group be your go-to for real-time guidance from people who know the city. Our on-route security and paramedic teams are there throughout Monday and Tuesday, but the same instincts you'd use traveling anywhere new apply before and after those two days as well.
Trinidad's currency is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TTD), though US dollars and cards are widely accepted in tourist-facing businesses. Registered taxis and app-based ride services operate throughout Port of Spain, and many masqueraders find it easiest to arrange transport in advance for Carnival Monday and Tuesday specifically, since roads along the route close to regular traffic.
First-Timer's FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
Use the sizing guide before choosing your bra, waist and bottom sizes. If you are between sizes or unsure, contact Showtime on WhatsApp before placing your order so the team can help you choose. Final sizes are due January 1, 2027.
Costume distribution happens in the weeks leading up to Carnival, at scheduled pickup dates and a designated location in Trinidad, communicated directly to you by email and WhatsApp well in advance. If you're flying in and can't make the standard pickup window, reach out to our team — we regularly help international masqueraders coordinate alternate pickup arrangements.
More masqueraders than you'd think play mas solo, and Carnival is one of the friendliest environments on earth for it. You'll be part of a section from the moment you register, and our band community (including our WhatsApp groups) connects you with fellow masqueraders before you even land. By the time you're on the truck, you won't feel like a stranger.
Bring: comfortable footwear you've broken in beforehand, a small waist bag or crossbody for essentials (phone, ID, cash, sunscreen), and a portable phone charger. Leave at home: anything you're not prepared to dance in, sweat in, or lose — Carnival is a full-contact celebration, so travel light and comfortable.
No visit to Trinidad is needed to pay. Overseas customers can pay their deposit through Partial.ly or pay in full online by debit or credit card. Online plans require the initial TTD 800 deposit (USD 119.40) immediately. The 48-hour window applies only to payment at Mas Camp. Your Partial.ly agreement sets out your payment schedule; final balances and sizes are due January 1, 2027. All payments are final and non-refundable.
Registration & Payments
Tap a section for the details.
A TTD 800 deposit must be received within 48 hours of placing your order to secure your place. Unpaid orders are canceled after that window. Overseas customers can pay their deposit through Partial.ly or pay in full online by debit or credit card; no visit to Trinidad is needed to pay. Customers already in Trinidad can also choose the in-person Mas Camp payment option at checkout. Check your payment currency and final total before paying. All payments are final and non-refundable.
All costume balances, however you've chosen to pay them, must be cleared in full by January 1, 2027. Once you're paid in full, your official QR boarding pass is generated and emailed to you automatically — this is your mandatory digital ticket for costume collection, so hang onto that email.
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable, and missing the January 1st deadline results in forfeiture of both your deposit and your costume allocation. We know that's a firm policy, and it's firm because sections are genuinely limited — it's what allows us to guarantee every masquerader who registers a confirmed spot, rather than overselling and disappointing people later.
What to bring: your official QR boarding pass and a valid government-issued ID.
When: specific collection times for each section are announced by email as we approach the season. If you're arriving from overseas and the standard collection window doesn't line up with your travel dates, reach out to our team in advance — we regularly help international masqueraders arrange alternate pickup times.
