Carnival takes over downtown Orlando with a parade, dancing and plenty of soca and calypso this weekend

Things are hot enough in Orlando already, but now the big and blazing Carnival takeover of downtown is back just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

The downtown quadrant will burst into vibrant-hued life with three days of fashion shows, dancing, live soca, reggae and calypso music, and an unmissable parade.

Carnival on the Runway kicks things off on Friday, May 23, at Camping World Stadium; the action continues Saturday, May 24, with two different live-music destinations as Carnival Jouvert happens at the Stadium and Soca Anthropology spills out into the Dr. Phillips Center’s front lawn. There will be no time for any comedowns or hangovers on Sunday, May 25, because the Carnival parade and yet another concert fills the downtown streets.


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This article appears in May 14-20, 2025.