Cambridge Carnival, an annual Mardi Gras-style Caribbean festival is happening in Kendall Square on September 13th this year. This multi-cultural festival celebrates the diversity of the Caribbean islands and has been growing consistently since 1992.

This year it will be one of the largest outdoor multicultural events in New England, projected to attract more than 150,000 people. A variety of ethnic cuisine, wire bending, craft exhibits, and two stages set up for entertainers playing Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, Calypso, Reggae, Compa, Punta, and Salsa music will be primary features of the festival.

The festival brings the Cambridge community together to exhibit colorful costumes and to celebrate diversity. “Revelers masquerade through the streets of Cambridge in dazzling handmade costumes dancing to the international beat and flavor of Carnival,”

said Caroline Gormley, a carnival promoter.

The highlight of the festival is this parade of costumed carnivalites who will exhibit their sculpture, music, steel pan, dancing, and masks celebrating an array of cultures.

The parade starts near the Charles River at the corner of Blackstone and River Street, passes through Central Square along Massachusetts Avenue, continues up Main Street and ends around 4pm in Kendall Square. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be awarded publically to the performers with the best costumes, as judged by a volunteer panel of Cambridge residents.

DJ Zones will spin after the parade until 6PM in Kendall square, and DJ Illabash will be featured at the Globe near the Kendall Square T Stop. There will also be two static DJ stations on Main Street spinning until 6pm.

For directions and further information visit cambridgecarnival.org