TOBAGO TREK NIGHT CRAWL
A FUSION OF FOLKLORE, DIGITAL INNOVATION & TOURISM

As the Animae Caribe Festival continues to lead the way in Caribbean digital creativity, this year’s edition promises a unique blend of entertainment, with the much-anticipated Tobago Trek: Night Crawl. This thrilling event takes participants on a journey through the haunted hills of Tobago, blending local folklore with interactive challenges and cutting-edge gaming technology. It culminates in a celebration on Castara Beach, marking the close of the 2024 festival with music, dancing, and a bonfire. The Tobago Trek game was originally conceived by a team of dynamic young artists from Tobago, members of the forward-thinking E-Pixl Studio, a collective known for pushing boundaries in the digital arts. E-Pixl Studio has quickly gained a reputation as a hub of innovation, producing digital content that promotes both local culture and tourism. The group of artists, created Tobago Trek at the Animae Caribe 2018 Animation and Game Design Accelerator Programme, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

This experience will demonstrate how creativity can merge with technology to drive cultural tourism. The game is centered around two shipwreck survivors who must navigate the island’s folklore and traditions, encountering characters inspired by Tobago’s mythological history. Players explore the island through a maze of thrilling challenges, interacting with local legends and folklore, while earning digital tokens and prizes along the way. These digital rewards, designed to promote tourism, can be redeemed when visitors eventually travel to Tobago, adding an innovative layer of engagement that aligns with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago’s push for digital transformation. This unique initiative bridges the gap between traditional storytelling and modern gaming, allowing participants to immerse themselves in the island’s folklore while promoting real-world tourism. The game’s integration of digital tokens offers tourists an added incentive to visit Tobago, blending the virtual and physical worlds in a way that directly benefits the local economy. The Folklore Night Crawl will take participants on a bus ride starting from E-Pixl Studio at 4pm, winding through Tobago’s haunted hills. Along the way, they will encounter the island’s folklore, and face thrilling challenges that bring the game to life in real-time. The journey will conclude on the serene shores of Castara Beach, where festival-goers will gather around a bonfire for the final celebration of the Animae Caribe Festival. Music, food, and fun will fill the night as participants reflect on their immersive trek through Tobago’s mysterious landscapes.

As the festival continues to push the boundaries of digital media, Tobago Trek and the Folklore Night Crawl exemplify how Animae Caribe fosters not only digital innovation but also the promotion of Caribbean culture. The Animae Caribe Festival, now in its 23rd year, remains a beacon for digital creatives in the Caribbean, offering a platform for cultural exchange and innovation. The festival’s closing event on Castara Beach, with a bonfire under the stars, is set to be a fitting end to this year’s celebrations, bringing together participants and locals alike in a shared celebration of Tobago’s rich heritage and the future of Caribbean digital arts.