Africa’s biggest street party

The Calabar Carnival festival in Nigeria, popularly known as "Africa's Biggest Street Party," was developed as a component of the goal to make Cross River State, Nigeria, the top tourist attraction for both domestic and international travelers. The carnival, which is the most colorful event in Nigeria and lasts from the first of December until the 31st of December each year, has enhanced the cultural diversity of Nigerians while attracting millions of local, regional, and international spectators, which has boosted the economy for all parties involved.

The Calabar festival has existed since its inception, but it really started to take shape until it was formally recognized as a Carnival in 2004 by the then-governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, who had a goal to turn the state into a center for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and Africa. The Festival also featured music performances by both local and international artists, the annual Calabar Carnival, Boat regatta, Fashion shows (introduced in 2016), Beauty pageants (Miss Africa introduced in 2016), Christmas Village, traditional dances, and the annual Ekpe Festival, an annual event that attracts thousands of tourists. The carnival also features an essay writing contest that attracts participants from both secondary school and higher education. Through these competitions, the State's youth are being encouraged to read more and adopt a carnival-like attitude.