Definition: A blog carnival is similar to a special edition of a magazine. Like a special edition, blog carnivals are collections of blog posts that share a common theme but are written by different authors.
In a blog carnival, a participant writes a post about the carnival's topic. The post links back to a central location where readers can find a list of posts by other bloggers who are taking part in the carnival. Blog carnivals offer readers a chance to discover new blogs. For authors, carnivals offer an opportunity to attract a new audience and build a following.
Examples:
The About.com Parenting and Family channel hosts a monthly blog carnival featuring great bloggers from across the net writing on different topics of importance to parents and families.