With Trinidad Carnival on the horizon, I felt like this was the perfect time to share a few things that helped me “rule the road” as a first-time masquerader — plus a few extras that I learned along the way.
Because let me tell you something: playing mas is FUN. But after hours of jumping, waving, wining, dancing, walking, eating, drinking, and doing it all over again, your body may have a few opinions.
And some of those opinions could have been avoided with the right supplies.
So if this is your first time playing mas, consider this your little Carnival survival guide. Your costume is important, of course, but what you wear underneath it and what you bring with you can make or break your road experience.
1. Stockings. STOCKINGS. STOCKINGS.
Before you even pick up your costume, as soon as you touch down in Trinidad (if you’re playing mas in Trinidad Carnival), go to Micles.
Seriously.
Micles has all types of stockings in different shades, sizes and styles, so you have plenty of options depending on your costume and your skin tone.
And trust me when I say: you are going to want stockings for the road.
Because the last thing you want is to be five miles into Carnival, having the time of your life, and suddenly realizing that your thighs have entered into a personal disagreement.
Chafing is not invited to Carnival.
The stockings give you that extra layer between your skin and your costume, which can make a HUGE difference when you’re spending hours on the road.
And if you’re worried about the stockings sitting directly against your lady parts, here’s another little tip:
Bring panty liners.
Yep. Add them to the Carnival survival kit.
They’re an easy extra layer if you want a little more coverage and comfort underneath your stockings.
Future you will thank you.
2. Comfortable Sneakers
Listen.
I know.
You have your Carnival costume and you want the whole look to LOOK.
But unless you are some sort of superhuman, this is probably not the day to debut a pair of shoes that you’ve never worn before.
Comfortable sneakers are your friend.
Remember, you’re not just going to be standing around taking cute pictures.
You’re walking.
You’re dancing.
You’re jumping.
You’re wining.
You’re following the band.
You’re stopping.
You’re starting.
And then you’re doing it all again.
Your feet are going to be working overtime.
So wear sneakers that you already know are comfortable and that you’ve broken in. Bonus points if they work with your costume and you don’t mind getting them a little dirty.
Because by the end of the day, cute but painful shoes are going straight into the “never again” category.
3. Insoles. Don’t Skip These.
Even if your sneakers are comfortable, I highly recommend adding a good pair of insoles.
Think of it as giving your feet a little extra support before you ask them to carry you through an entire day of Carnival.
This is one of those things that doesn’t feel exciting when you’re packing your Carnival bag.
But somewhere around hour six, you’ll be very glad you packed them.
4. A Fanny Pack or Leg Bag
You need somewhere to put your essentials, but you also need to keep your hands free.
Because you’re going to need those hands for important things.
Like waving.
And dancing.
And taking videos.
And holding your drink.
And waving some more.
A small fanny pack or leg bag is perfect for the things you absolutely need to keep with you without carrying a big bag around the road.
Think:
- Phone
- ID
- Money/cards
- Lip balm
- Sunscreen
- Portable charger
- Anything else you absolutely cannot leave behind
Just remember: keep it small.
You don’t want to be hauling your entire carry-on around Trinidad Carnival.
5. Stay Hydrated — And Here’s a Little Trick
You’re going to be outside for hours, moving constantly, dancing in the hot sun and having a GOOD TIME.
Drink your water.
I know. Very basic advice.
But here’s a little tip that I learned that can make things much easier when you’re getting drinks from the truck:
Label your cup with the numbers of the drinks you want.
Write a number next to your preferred drink combination, like 1. Rum and Coca-Cola 2. Coconut Water.
Why?
Because Carnival gets LOUD.
The music is blasting, everybody is talking, people are dancing, the truck is moving and the people serving drinks are trying to keep up with everybody.
Sometimes they simply can’t hear you.
So instead of yelling your order over the music five times, put the numbers right on your cup.
“2 or 3.”
There you go.
Order received.
Drink acquired.
Back to the road.
You’re welcome.
And of course, keep some water in the mix too. Soca, sunshine and alcohol can be a dangerous combination if you’re not paying attention to hydration.
6. Sunscreen
Please don’t get so caught up in your costume, feathers, jewels and Carnival makeup that you forget about sunscreen.
You’re going to be outside for HOURS.
Apply it before you leave and bring some with you if you can.
And don’t forget the places that are easy to overlook — shoulders, chest, arms, legs and the back of your neck.
Because Carnival sunburn is not the souvenir you’re looking for.
7. Bring a Portable Charger
You are going to take pictures.
You are going to take videos.
You are going to post.
You are going to check your phone.
You are probably going to send somebody a “LOOK AT ME PLAYING MAS!” message.
And before you know it, your battery is at 12%.
Bring the power bank.
Your phone is going to be doing overtime right along with your feet.
8. Lip Balm
This might seem random, but trust me — bring it.
You’re going to be outside all day, you’re going to be eating and drinking, and depending on the weather, your lips may get dry.
It’s tiny enough to throw into your fanny pack, so there’s really no reason not to have one.
9. Waterproof Your Phone
If you’re planning to take your phone onto the road, consider some type of waterproof protection.
Even if you’re not planning to get soaked, Carnival can get messy.
There are drinks.
There is sweat.
There may be water.
And there are a LOT of people moving around you.
A waterproof phone pouch can give you some peace of mind while you’re capturing all those memories.
10. Pack Something for After the Road
This is the part nobody talks about enough.
You still have to go home.
And after spending hours in your costume, dancing, sweating and walking, you may not want to sit around in everything you wore on the road.
Pack a change of clothes if you have somewhere secure to leave it, or at least have an outfit ready for when you get back.
And please think about what you’re going to need for your post-Carnival recovery.
Because when the adrenaline wears off?
Your body may have some things to say.
My Carnival Shopping List
Of course, I put together a shopping list with some of the things I recommend for playing mas.
You can check it out here:
AshleyTravelsTheGlobe Carnival Shopping List
And remember: Carnival is supposed to be FUN.
Your costume is only one part of the experience. The little things you bring with you can make the difference between spending the day fully enjoying yourself and spending the day wondering why your feet, thighs and entire body have decided to file a formal complaint.
So pack smart, wear comfortable shoes, protect those thighs, keep your essentials close, drink your water, and most importantly…
GO HAVE A TIME!
Because once the music starts, the band hits the road and you hear that sweet, sweet soca?
You’re not a first-time masquerader anymore.
You’re a masquerader.
Now go and rule the road.
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