The spirit of Carnival Calabar was joyously on display on 27 December 2025, as the Children’s Carnival brought enthusiasm, rhythm, and vibrant cultural expression to the streets of Calabar.
Part of the larger Carnival Calabar 2025 celebration themed “Traces of Time” in honour of the festival’s 20th anniversary — young participants from seven major bands took centre stage, showcasing creativity and tradition in a lively parade that delighted families and spectators alike. The annual event, recognised as Africa’s biggest street carnival, has become a focal point for cultural pride and community celebration in Cross River State.
Children clad in dazzling costumes marched and danced under the banners of Bayside Band, Freedom Band, Diamond Band, Masta Blasta Band, Seagull Band, Calas Vegas Band, and Passion Band, each interpreting the year’s central theme through imaginative performances. The colourful display was more than entertainment, it was a creative dialogue between generations, inviting young revellers to explore the carnival’s rich heritage while celebrating contemporary expressions of identity.
Organisers have underscored that the Children’s Carnival is designed not just as a spectacle but as a space for nurturing cultural pride and instilling a sense of responsibility among the young ahead of the main carnival events later in the festive season.
The chairman of the Cross River state carnival commission Mr. Gabe Onah, recalled the bold vision that birthed the carnival at the turn of the millennium and transformed a 12-kilometer stretch into the world’s longest carnival route.
“Our young people now dance not just to entertain, but to earn, to express, and to inspire. Carnival Calabar is a living legacy of purpose-driven culture,” Onah said.
Tourism expert and Africa’s cultural ambassador, Ikechi Uko, also described the carnival as a rare African tourism product with enduring global appeal.
According to him, Calabar stands out as one of the few Nigerian cities that transcend negative global perceptions.
This year’s “Traces of Time” theme highlights the evolution of Carnival Calabar from its roots in 2005 to its current stature as a premier cultural and economic festival drawing participants and tourists from across Nigeria and beyond. Governor Bassey Otu, who unveiled the anniversary theme earlier in the year, described Carnival Calabar as “a bold expression of our collective dreams, cultural heritage, and economic ingenuity,” framing the month-long celebration as both a reflection on the past and a springboard for future creative growth.
With activities spanning from the Children’s Carnival to cultural processions, street parties, bikers’ parades and fireworks planned through the end of the year, the festival continues to cement Calabar’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination.
