May 17th, 2026
In Trinidad and Tobago, events rarely exist as simple gatherings. Carnival, fetes, weddings, corporate launches — they live somewhere between spectacle and controlled chaos. Few people understand that balance better than Krista Clarke.
Known for creating visually striking experiences across Carnival, corporate events, and brand activations, Krista has built a reputation for transforming complexity into atmosphere — balancing creativity with sharp logistical precision to deliver experiences that feel effortless to the people enjoying them.
But great events are never just about timelines and checklists. Clarke’s story is also one of reinvention: adapting through uncertainty, rebuilding during the pandemic, and continuously reshaping what creative work can look like in the Caribbean.
“I loved figuring out logistics. I loved making things better. And I realised I also loved taking something chaotic and turning it into something beautiful.”
Tanya: How did this all begin for you?
Krista: I got my first job right after A’Levels at COLFIRE, and almost immediately, I realised corporate office life wasn’t for me. I hated it enough to decide to go back to school. First, I went to the UK on a work-study visa, and then to Miami to attend FIU, where I studied Mass Communication and Psychology.
But I’m a Carnival girl at heart. No matter where I was, I always came back home to play mas. When I returned to Trinidad after university, TRIBE had just started. A friend who was involved asked, “What are you doing with your life?” and honestly, I had no idea. She said, “Come help,” and that was it.
I ended up working with TRIBE and Ultimate Events for about eight years.
TANYA: When did you realise event planning was actually your thing?
Krista: Two people I worked with at TRIBE/Ultimate Events really shaped me — Michael Nobrega (fondly known as Uncle Mike) and Gail Cabral. Uncle Mike handled logistics, while Gail was deeply creative, specialising in costume design and décor.
They recognised very early that I noticed details other people overlooked. Things that might not bother someone else would stand out to me immediately, and instead of treating that as overthinking, they encouraged it. They made me realise that my attention to detail was actually valuable.
I loved figuring out logistics. I loved making things better. And I realised I also loved taking something chaotic and turning it into something beautiful.
Tanya: That idea of “chaos” reminds me of something I once read about design — that designers observe complexity and create clarity from it.
Krsita: Exactly. People see the final result and think, “Oh, this is beautiful,” without knowing the chaos that existed before it. I like that.
TANYA: Do you still describe yourself as an event planner?
Krista: Officially yes, but I like to describe myself as a creative professional, because events are just one part of me. I’m a very visual person. So that could be fashion, that could be art… To me, I don’t put myself in a box of just events anymore. Recently, someone reached out to me to scout a shoot location, and I said, ‘Okay.’ I feel like if logistics are involved, I can probably figure it out.
TANYA: You worked with companies like TRIBE, Ultimate Events, and eventually Party & Events Co. Ltd. How did those experiences shape your approach?
Krista: While I was at Ultimate Events, I worked with a lot of suppliers, and one company I was always impressed by was Party & Events. They were reliable, always on time, and their team genuinely cared about the service they were providing. Eventually, I was offered the opportunity to take on a leadership and co-owner role there, and it was an immediate yes.
But we didn’t want Party & Events to remain just a tent company. We wanted to introduce more thoughtful décor pieces — tables, umbrellas, shelving, styling elements — things event designers actually needed but struggled to source locally.
I approached it from the perspective of an events person. If I needed a specific item, why shouldn’t it already exist here in Trinidad?
Party & Events also introduced me to the wedding industry.
TANYA: Which you still avoid?
Krista: Yes. Weddings are too personal for my A-type brain. There are so many emotions involved. I love structure. Give me a brand guideline, a Pantone reference, a visual system — I thrive in that environment.
I don’t necessarily need to know why your grandmother loved a specific shade of pink.
Kudos to wedding planners though, because that level of patience is truly a gift.
Even though weddings weren’t necessarily for me, Party & Events did allow me to explore the more creative side of event design. I started visualising spaces differently, experimenting with styling, sourcing unusual pieces, and thinking about how people physically experience environments.
“To me, Carnival itself is a brand. The fetes and experiences connected to it are all curated brand stories.”
TANYA: Most people probably know you through Carnival events and brand experiences. Do you approach those differently?
Krista: To me, Carnival itself is a brand. The fetes and experiences connected to it are all curated brand stories.
When we executed the Soca Baby stage for Soca Brainwash, Ryan’s team came with clear direction: this is the vision, this is the look, this is the deadline. I work really well within those kinds of frameworks.
Corporate events and Carnival events are actually very similar in that sense. There are still rules and guidelines, but there’s also room for interpretation and creativity. I love structure, but I also love bending it slightly.
Carnival allows me to be a little unruly, while the corporate world keeps me organised.
Tanya: You’re fully independent now?
Krista: Yes. That really happened after COVID.
TANYA: What was that period like for you?
Krista: COVID was traumatic. At the beginning of 2020, the re-branded Party & Events was finally finding its rhythm. We were entering what felt like a breakthrough year. Clients were calling consistently, the business felt stable, and for the first time we thought, “Okay, this is really working.”
Then everything stopped.
One thing I’m grateful for is that Carnival had been so successful that year that we were able to support our staff for a while, even at reduced salaries. If Carnival hadn’t gone well, I honestly don’t know how we would have survived those first months.
But eventually, no event company could sustain itself indefinitely without events.
It was an interesting time and feeling to say the least.
TANYA: And that’s what eventually led you to Barbados?
Krista: Yes. As the pandemic continued, I realised I couldn’t stay still. I needed to work, to learn something new, to keep moving.
That’s what eventually led me to Barbados. I got my CSME Certificate and secured a job as an Account Executive at a digital marketing agency. What attracted me most was their strong understanding of brand identity and brand experience. So they were more than just an agency for all things digital.
It ended up becoming another skillset I could carry with me.
TANYA: How long did you stay there?
Krista: Less than a year. Barbados is beautiful, but culturally it’s very different from Trinidad, and honestly, I missed home.
By the time events slowly started returning, I felt it was time to come back. Clients were beginning to call again, Carnival was returning, and instinctively I felt things were going to be okay.
Thankfully, they were.
TANYA: You also launched Carnival Oasis during that period, which has become hugely successful.
Krista: Carnival Oasis really came from personal experience. My aunt used to have a house in Newtown, on Picton Street, so literally the band would come off the Savannah stage, go around the Savannah, and then go to Jackson Square for lunch. We would go to Jackson Square, pick up our lunch, and then go to my aunt’s and return when the band was leaving, cause we weren’t going to sit down in that dust. So we would get to use the showers if needed, use the bathroom, redo our makeup, redo our hair, etc. Years later I was presented with an opportunity to execute it as a collaborative event project with Tenille Clarke.
I had a great relationship through Party & Events, with Veronique, who was the homeowner we work with for the Oasis. She said, ‘Sure!’
Shameless plug – The Carnival Oasis officially launched in 2020. It was introduced as one of the first premium Carnival lunch park experiences of its kind. Accessible only by invitation, it’s a uniquely curated experience that we have continued after COVID. I’m so proud that Carnival Oasis welcomes guests from all mas bands and all walks of life to feel beautiful and truly relaxed in a safe space.
TANYA: Do you see yourself expanding your team again in the future?
Krista: I think my version of a team looks different now.
I work very closely with Laura Murray on a lot of projects. She’s incredibly creative, and we balance each other well. Sometimes I naturally take on more logistical responsibilities while she sees creative details I might miss, and vice versa.
We also both maintain our own independent companies while collaborating constantly, which gives us flexibility.
Beyond that, I have a network of trusted suppliers and seasonal staff that I rely on heavily. They may not officially be on payroll year-round, but they’re absolutely part of the team.
TANYA: How do you think Trinidad’s culture shapes the events industry here?
Krista: Trinidad is built around celebration. There is always something happening, always a reason for people to gather, lime, celebrate, create.
The positive side is that there’s always opportunity. Somebody is always calling with an event, an idea, a production, a tournament, a launch.
The challenge is that everything also happens very fast. Most things operate on “Trini time.” You might get a call saying an event is happening next week and everything needs to be coordinated immediately.
But honestly, I think I thrive in that environment.
It keeps my brain constantly moving — always figuring things out, always adapting, always making chaos beautiful.
Thanks for chatting with us Krista.
Interviewer | Writer: Tanya Marie . Creative Direction & Styling: Safia Elena . Photography: Jordan LHR / The Perspectives
