Summer Carnival

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Zomercarnaval 2007
The Summer Carnaval (Dutch: Zomercarnaval) is a yearly event in the Belgian city of Kortrijk and the
Dutch cities Rotterdam, Bentelo and Arnhem that mimics the Carnaval of Latin America and the Cape
Verde Islands. The traditional pre-Lent Carnival falls in winter in the cool, northern European climate. This
climate does not lend itself to celebrating carnival in the Latin American and Cape Verde manner. The
Summer Carnival offers people an opportunity to celebrate Carnival in such a manner. The Arnhem Rio on
the Rhine attracted more than 150.000 visitors, while the Rotterdam event attracts nearly a million visitors
yearly. Summer Carnaval is often compared to Karneval der Kulturen (Berlin) and Notting Hill
Carnival (London).
Contents
[hide]
1 Zomercarnaval Rotterdam
o 1.1 Queens
2 References
3 External links
Zomercarnaval Rotterdam[edit]
The first Zomercarnaval was held on August 4, 1984 in Rotterdam. The Zomercarnaval Rotterdam is
a multicultural colourful carnival. Summer Carnival has been started to experience the carnival as
people celebrate it in the warm West Indies and Caribbean area. Rotterdam is home to many people from
different cultures in warm climates. Summer Carnival gives a little bit a feeling of being home. Summer
season suites the warm feeling better. Zomercarnaval Rotterdam is a celebration for the entire community,
across all social classes. origin, color, position, education, male, female, young or old...everyone joins
the Zomercarnaval Rotterdam
Zomercarnaval Rotterdam has become a multi-day event that attracts yearly almost one million visitors. In
2014 the Zomercarnaval Rotterdam takes place on 18 and 19 July. Zomercarnaval can be compared with
he famous Caribbean carnival in London: Notting Hill Carnival.
Although the street parade attracts the most visitors the Zomercarnaval is a multi-day event. A week prior
to the street parade the new Queen is elected in the official Zomercarnaval Queen Election.
[1]
On the
Thursday after the election the Zomercarnaval Beach Party is held at the Stand aan de Maas, a small
beach created in the city center of Rotterdam. Several brass bands and DJ's show up and the newly
chosen Queen is also present.
[2]
On Friday evening the Battle of Drums is held, an event in which several
brass bands compete to be named the official Zomercarnaval brass band and earn a spot in the parade the
day after as well as in the Notting Hill Carnival in London. The preliminaries for the Battle of Drums are held
at the Dunya Festival in Rotterdam.
[3]
The street parade which is always held on Saturday includes brass
bands and thousands of dancers. During and after the street parade there are two live on stage concerts at
the Coolsingel and the Churchillplein until late in the evening.
[4][5]

In 2007 the Rotterdam carnival had an agreement
[6]
with the Notting Hill Carnival for exchange of brass
and steel bands.
Queens[edit]


Queen Rotterdam 2006


Queen Rotterdam 2007
2003: Patricia Tulen
2005: Imara Thomas
2006: Katy Cedeo Manzanillo
Katy Cedeo Manzanillo was chosen to be the Queen of the 2006 Zomercarnaval in
the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal on July 17, 2006. She is from Dominican descent and was part of
the Grupo Carnaval Dominicano. In total eight contestants participated in the Queen Election, in
which Lamya M'Haidra of Carnaval & Friends and Maria Elizabeth Kooij Martinez of Colores
Latinos became second and third.
[7]

2007: Marcie de Jongh
Originally from Aruba Marcie de Jongh was chosen as the Queen of the 2007 Zomercarnaval.
Again the election was held in the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. She was part of the Kingdoms
under the Sun Group from Amsterdam. The election was different than in other years where the
candidates showed their skills in several rounds of various clothing types. This time they had to
excel in communication and flair.
[8]
Seven candidates challenged for the title. Behind De Jongh the
second spot was for Diandra Bramble of Aruba Uni She lost with only 0,03 percent of the votes.
Fabienne Kadirbaks of Caribbean Jewels won the third spot.
[9]




Latin American Passion with a Dutch twist
Since 2013, the Summer Carnival is part of the multi-day festival Rotterdam Unlimited, which is all
about dance, music, art and poetry. The Caribean Summer Carnival is one of the highlights of this
festival a and it attracts nearly one million visitors every single year! Every summer the streets in
Rotterdam come alive with the Latin-American sounds and smells. This colourful and musical event is an
offshoot of the Carnival in Latin-America the participants are a melting pot of various cultures, but
especially from the Netherlands Antilles and Cape Verde. The Caribbean music will make you swing your
hips for sure, especially during the Street Parade closing event with thousands of dancers from many
different countries! The best thing is: the Rotterdam Summer Carnival is for free!
Choose the Queen of the Summer Carnival
The Summer Carnival actually starts on Saturday, a week before the street parade with the Queen
Election. You canvote online on the candidates from several carnival groups, but a professional jury will
have the final word in electing the Summer Carnival Queen in Rotterdam. The Queen has to be
representative, looking good, but above all she must be a great Latin dancer! The Summer Carnival
Queen will be the main character in the Street Parade on Saturday and will be the upcoming years
ambassador of the Summer Carnival in Rotterdam.
Battle of Drums Summer Carnival Rotterdam
Friday evening before the closing Street Parade there will be a contest between the best three brass
bands of the Netherlands. These brass bands will perform a spectacular show called theBattle of Drums.
Brass bands? Expect a spectacular show with rhytmical drumbeats, that can be heard from miles away!
These brass bands depart from three different locations within Rotterdam, make a procession through
Rotterdam and gather at the Churchillplein square for a big show altogether! It's a great way to get into
the mood for the Summer Carnival streetparade the day after.

Swing at the Summer Carnival Street Parade
The Street Parade is the grande finale of what the Summer Carnival of Rotterdam Unlimited is really all
about. On Saturday afternoon, a colourful parade of brass bands and thousands of beautifully dressed
dancers make a swinging and singing procession through the streets of Rotterdam. Big carnival trucks
play loud music, so absolutely nobody will be able to miss their drum beats! Rotterdam is turned into a
tropical paradise for one day. You'll swing your hips to the catchy music for sure. Besides dance and
music, Summer Carnival in Rotterdam is all about tropical food and drinks. AtCoolsingel you can taste all
kinds of exotic food and drinks with hundreds of food stalls. Go Latin and try a Roti or Bara and
experience a real Caribbean Carnival weekend! Scroll down to see the route of the Street Parade
through Rotterdam.
Concerts during Summer Carnival Rotterdam
As Summer Carnival is now part of the Rotterdam Unlimitedfestival, the city will also host many other
events during the week prior to Summer Carnival. Throughout the city there will be many music and
dance performances and poetry readings. The highlights of the festival are the free concerts at Hofplein
square on Sunday. For the complete festival programme visit our page about Rotterdam Unlimited.