The Caribbean region of Nicaragua is known for its colourful celebrations, full of rhythm and flavour. A notable festivity is the Emancipation Festival in Corn Island, a three-day celebration that reconnects locals with their roots.
This festival, which brings together the entire community, as well as national and foreign tourists, is held from August 27 to 29 on Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island, commemorating the abolition of black slavery on the islands on August 27, 1841, on the shores of Southwest Bay on Great Corn Island.
The locals remember this day by honoring their ancestors, who were enslaved by British colonists on the Mosquito Coast. They received the news of their freedom from Colonel Alexander McDonald, sent on behalf of Queen Victoria of England and the King of Mosquitia, Robert Charles Frederick. The newly freed people celebrated that momentous day with crab soup.
As part of the agenda for this important date, on August 27 there is a parade of floats and carnival through the main streets of Great Corn Island, followed by a cultural event, free traditional food such as crab soup, traditional games, and a live music concert.
The next day, August 28, the coronation of the queen of the islands, Miss Corn Island, takes place, where the six neighborhoods that make up the islands, along with Little Corn Island, participate in the pageant. On August 29, the entire community moves to Little Corn Island to celebrate with traditional games, cultural performances, and tasting of typical food.
In Nicaragua, the emancipation from slavery did not only occur in Corn Island but also in Bluefields and Pearl Lagoon on August 10, 1841. However, in Corn Island, this festival has been celebrated continuously since 1852, with the Ebenezer Baptist Church institutionalizing the celebration and the local government organizing it since 1980.
Visit Corn Island from August 27 to 29 and enjoy its biggest festival while admiring its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and savoring its coconut and seafood-based cuisine.