Carnival

The Carnival was inaugurated in 1999 to help local people on the island following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 ("The Mitch" as it is known in Utila) and has been held every year since then.While initially held to fund local projects on the Island to improve facilities, repair roads, etc, Utila Carnival has become a week long party which attracts visitors from Honduras and throughout Central America, as well as many ex-patriot Utilians who return home for that week.

Semana Santa (Easter Week), Utila Carnival week, Sun Jam weekend (first weekend in August) and Christmas are traditionally the busiest times in Utila with tourists visiting the Island from all over Central America. If you are planning to visit the Island during these times you are advised to book accommodations well in advance. That does not necessarily mean if you cannot make an advance accommodation reservations you will not find anywhere to stay since the majority of smaller hotels, apartments and accommodations in Utila rely on the backpacker "walk-in" trade and as such do not take reservations.

Utila Carnival traditionally begins with the crowning of the Carnival Queen and Carnival Princesses. During the week are cultural events, sporting events, a bonfire at the beach, a Miss Utila Contest, and various street parties held in local neighborhoods. The restaurants tend to stay open later and many of the more popular bars remain open 24 hours a day. The first Carnival Queen was Chelsea Hill in 1999.