The festival schedule includes an impressive variety of sporting events, cultural competitions, and family-friendly activities. Popular attractions include beach football, volleyball, motorbike racing, swimming, kayaking, traditional boat rowing, angling, cross-country races, cycling, badminton, boxing, wrestling, painting, drawing, rangoli, kolam, mehndi, quizzes, and numerous fun-filled contests. As evening falls, Fort Kochi comes alive with traditional music, folk dances, theatrical performances, and other cultural programs, creating a festive atmosphere that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Throughout the Carnival, K. B. Jacob Road, the main venue of the celebrations, is transformed into a dazzling festive boulevard. The street is beautifully decorated with colourful lights, themed displays, and thousands of illuminated stars, creating a lively atmosphere for visitors. Various events and competitions are independently organized and sponsored by participating clubs and organizations, adding to the community-driven spirit of the festival. The grand finale on New Year's Eve is the symbolic burning of the Pappanji effigy on Fort Kochi Beach, accompanied by traditional music, cultural performances, and spectacular fireworks, marking the farewell to the departing year and the welcome of a new one.
The celebrations continue on New Year's Day with the much-awaited Carnival Rally, regarded as one of Kerala's largest and most vibrant cultural parades. The procession features colourful floats, traditional folk art forms, masked performers, marching bands, martial arts demonstrations, musicians, dancers, and enthusiastic participants from across the region. As the parade winds through Fort Kochi's beautifully illuminated streets, decorated trees, and the iconic Chinese fishing nets, it creates a memorable spectacle for thousands of spectators. Outstanding participants are honoured with the prestigious Cochin Mayor's Trophy.
Traditional art forms and local customs remain at the heart of the Cochin Carnival, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of Fort Kochi. Since its establishment, the festival has received continuous support from the Kochi Municipal Corporation, the Kerala Tourism Department, India Tourism, and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). Over the years, it has grown into one of Kerala's most significant annual tourism events, attracting large numbers of domestic and international visitors.