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Modern Carnival
The Carnival season begins in late December and runs until Carnival Tuesday. These days the official Carnivals celebrations consists of a range of musical and artistic activities. Most are organized by the National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, which provides the "managerial and organization infrastructure of the Carnival celebrations" [NCC source].

Masquerade
The signature event of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is the Senior Parade of the Bands. In the event different Mas Bands parade around Port of Spain, travelling from judging point to judging point. The participants in this event, or masqueraders, wear specially designed costumes, often with several designs for each band. The Mas Bands compete for the title of Band of the Year which is judged by specially assigned judges. There is also a Junior Parade of the Bands for children, also known as Kiddies Carnival, which is held at some point before. In addition to the main celebration in the capital city, there are also Mas Band competitions held at other towns in Trinidad and Tobago. The Carnival King and Queen competition is held on Carnival Sunday during the Dimanche Gras event.

Music
The NCC hosts a number of musical competitions featuring many of the indigenous musical artforms. Panorama is the competition in which Steel Bands compete in a number of size categories. The Calypso Monarch takes place during the the Dimanche Gras event. The Soca Monarch takes place on Carnival Friday. The Chutney Soca Monarch takes place two Fridays before Carnival. The Road March competition crowns the artiste whose song was played most times at the judging points of the Senior Parade of the Bands during Carinival Monday and Tuesday.

Unofficial events
In addition to the official events organized by the NCC, there are many parties or "Fetes" that feature the local musical artforms.

Interruptions
Carnival has been postponed or cancelled on three ocasions. From 1942 to 1945 Carnival was cancelled because of World War II. In 1972 Carnival was postponed to May because of a Polio epidemic and in 2021 and 2022 it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.