The National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago successfully hosted Tiny Mas, Big Heritage II on Saturday 31st January 2026 at Mille Fleurs Heritage House, welcoming the public for an afternoon of Carnival heritage.
The event brought Mille Fleurs into active use as a heritage space where tradition could be experienced directly through sound, movement, storytelling, and creative practice.
Highlights included live rhythm and performance by the FCB Dragon Boys Tassa Band, steelpan engagement featuring the Highlanders Steel Orchestra (Engine Room), and interactive public learning through the Isla Pay Games Splash Booth, which used large-scale play to introduce Carnival characters, heritage themes, and historical knowledge in accessible ways.
Traditional Carnival was also brought into sharp focus through the presence of cultural performer, educator, and theatre professional Kurtis Gross (Chaos Bringer), who appeared in full force as the Midnight Robber. Gross, who recently featured in the National Trust’s first 2026 Toute Bagai Lecture Series installment on the Midnight Robber tradition, extended that engagement into the public space at Mille Fleurs — offering attendees a direct encounter with one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most iconic and psychologically complex traditional characters.
The programme also featured the Bright Eyed Jab Molassie Workshop, offering participants a guided opportunity to explore mask-making, pattern play, and expressive Carnival tradition through one of the artform’s most distinctive characters.
According to Graeme Suite, CEO of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago,
“Tiny Mas, Big Heritage II reflects the Trust’s commitment to ensuring that heritage sites remain relevant public spaces where culture can be shared, practiced, and understood across generations.”
An important feature of this year’s event was the Trust’s continued focus on membership growth. National Trust staff were present throughout the grounds wearing branded t-shirts reading “Ask me anything about the National Trust,” engaging attendees in conversation and distributing membership forms as part of the organisation’s wider 2026 strategy to deepen public buy-in and expand support for the preservation of tangible heritage.
The National Trust expressed sincere appreciation to its sponsors and partners whose support contributed to the event’s success, including #visitTrinidad, First Citizens, the Steelpan Manufacturers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SMATT), Bright Eyed, the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), IslaPay, and the Ministry of Culture and Community Development.
Proceeds from Tiny Mas, Big Heritage II support the Trust’s ongoing work to preserve heritage sites such as Mille Fleurs and sustain year-round cultural education and outreach programmes.
The National Trust encourages members of the public to continue supporting heritage preservation through participation, advocacy, and National Trust membership, which provides opportunities to remain engaged with the country’s historic places and cultural initiatives.
About the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago is a membership-based organisation established by Act No. 11 of 1991 and amended by Act No. 31 of 1999. Operating under the Office of the Prime Minister, the Trust is responsible for identifying, preserving, and promoting the nation’s built and natural heritage.
