Carnival around the world
Carnival lights up cities across the globe, and this word search gathers the spectacle. You'll track down the icons — the SAMBA DANCERS, the bright COSTUME and FEATHERS, the giant PARADE and PROCESSION, and the pounding DRUMS and RHYTHM that drive it all.
Each puzzle pulls a fresh selection from the list, so the parade changes every time you play — gentle on Easy, and a Hard-mode challenge once the diagonals and backwards words appear.
From Rio to Venice
Every carnival has its own flavour, and they're here. There's the world-famous one in RIO, BRAZIL, the steel-drum revelry of TRINIDAD, and the elegant masked balls of VENICE. Look for the towering PERFORMERS on STILTS, the SEQUINS and MASKS, the COLOURFUL floats, and the cheering CROWD — a JOYFUL FESTIVAL and SPECTACLE like no other.
One festive season, many faces
Like Mardi Gras, carnival is the big burst of celebration in the days before Lent, the quiet Christian season of fasting. The name is thought to come from Latin words meaning 'farewell to meat' — one last feast before going without — which is why carnival is all about music, COSTUME and joy.
Each city does it differently. RIO de Janeiro in BRAZIL hosts the biggest carnival on Earth, where rival SAMBA schools parade through a purpose-built arena in a blaze of FEATHERS and SEQUINS. VENICE is famous for its mysterious, beautiful MASKS, a tradition stretching back centuries, while TRINIDAD fills the streets with the sound of steel drums. Wherever it happens, carnival is a dazzling SPECTACLE of colour and RHYTHM.
Great for a world-cultures topic
It pairs perfectly with a geography or cultures lesson comparing celebrations worldwide — and the separate Mardi Gras puzzle zooms in on the New Orleans version. Easy mode keeps the grid small with no diagonals or reverse words. Play online, print a PDF pack, or build your own grid with Make Your Own.
Frequently asked questions
What's in the carnival word search?
Carnival around the world — samba, costumes, feathers and parades, plus famous celebrations in Rio, Trinidad and Venice. Each puzzle uses a fresh mix.
Which carnivals does it cover?
Famous ones worldwide — the SAMBA spectacle of RIO in BRAZIL, the steel-drum revelry of TRINIDAD, and the elegant masked balls of VENICE.
How is it different from the Mardi Gras puzzle?
Carnival looks at celebrations worldwide; the separate Mardi Gras puzzle zooms in on the New Orleans version. Both are full of parades, masks and music.