Special Events

The longest running street party in St. Lucia, the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party is a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. With the pulsating rhythms echoing from the speakers of the islands DJs and the occasional appearance of local artists, one would be hard pressed not to enjoy themselves and even more so not to move to the infectious bass lines that accompany our Caribbean music. Everyone knows that dancing on an empty stomach is not cool. You can find a variety of Bar-Be-Que grills serving mouthwatering local cuisine including chicken, pork and sea food. One thing’s for sure, Gros Islet Friday Night is a must-stop for any visitor who loves to party.

Just when you thought that it was all centered about Gros Islet, we are pleased to offer you an attractive alternative. The Village of Anse-la-Raye, located on the west coast just south of Castries offers the alternate Friday Party with its Seafood Friday. Traditionally a fishing village, Anse-la-Raye offers the spoils of its labour to all visitors. Whether you crave the catch of the day or desire a delightful delicacy such as squid, octopus, shrimp or lobster, your taste is sure to be satisfied. Not to be outdone Anse-La-Raye also boasts its ability to get you grooving to a wide variety of Caribbean music. Anse-la-Raye, definitely another hot spot every Friday night…

On the east coast of the island another village with a fishing heritage attempts to keep our island in perfect symmetry as it too offers its Fish Festival. The general ambiance here is in keeping with that of Gros Islet and Anse-la-Raye with the main difference being the night of the week. The visitor is greeted by the sea breeze which ushers the tantalizing aroma of the myriad of sea offerings prepared by the villagers. The musical accompaniment with a definite preference to Soca, Dancehall (reggae) and some R&B perfectly adds to the atmosphere to make this festival a wonderful experience for any patron.

It's the New Year and, as is customary in St. Lucia, locals and visitors alike can find a number of things to do. From the night before (old year's night), and well into the first day, celebrations to usher in the New Year go on. Assou Square, a New Year's Day and New Year's Holiday Celebration party, happens in Vigie.

Assou Square, a New Year's Day and New Year's Holiday Celebration party, happens in Vigie.

Saint Lucia sets one week aside each year to Celebrate the achievements of its two Nobel laureates and outstanding sons-of-the-soil, Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott who won the Nobel Prizes in Economics (1979) and Literature (1992) respectively.

On this day St. Lucia celebrates its 33nd anniversary of independence from British rule. In 1979 St. Lucia was reborn as an independent state after being a colony of Great Britain.

In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays). It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptised), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the clergyman who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return".

There are no special events on the calendar for this month. Please check Year Round Events for available activities.

Good Friday is a holy day observed by most Christians on the Friday before Easter or Pascha. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. Special prayer services are often held on this day with readings from the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to the crucifixion. Mainstream Christian churches view Christ's crucifixion as a voluntary and vicarious act, and one by which, along with resurrection on the third day, death itself was conquered.

Easter, also known as Pascha, the Feast of the Resurrection, the Sunday of the Resurrection, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed between late March and late April. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which his followers believe occurred on the third day after his death by crucifixion sometime in the period AD 27 to 33. In the Roman Catholic Church, Easter is actually an eight-day feast called the Octave of Easter.

Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic cultures. Easter Monday in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar is the second day of the octave of Easter Week. In Poland and parts of the United States, Easter Monday is called Dyngus Day.

Saint Lucia Jazz has become one of the major events in Saint Lucia’s and surely a most anticipated event on the Caribbean’s calendar. During the month of May, the island dances when Jazz fills the air and tourism takes on a whole new meaning to all. What started as simply a marketing event to boost tourist arrivals during a low period has developed into a truly International Festival. As the month of May approaches each year, Saint Lucia Jazz draws attention to the island as the world waits in eager anticipation for the announcement of the usual star studded line-up. The entertainment is a mix of straight up Jazz, R&B, French and Latin music, reggae and Caribbean music. Past performers include Kenny G, Air Supply, John Legend, Rihanna, Santana, UB40, Kassav and many, many more. Contact: St Lucia Tourist Board P.O. Box 221, Sureline Building Vide Bouteille Castries Saint Lucia Tel. 758 452 4094 Fax. 758 453 1121 www.stluciajazz.org

Labour Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from efforts of the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the Eight Hour Day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organized workers in the world to achieve an eight hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day.

Saint Lucia Jazz has become one of the major events in Saint Lucia’s and surely a most anticipated event on the Caribbean’s calendar. During the month of May, the island dances when Jazz fills the air and tourism takes on a whole new meaning to all. What started as simply a marketing event to boost tourist arrivals during a low period has developed into a truly International Festival. As the month of May approaches each year, Saint Lucia Jazz draws attention to the island as the world waits in eager anticipation for the announcement of the usual star studded line-up. The entertainment is a mix of straight up Jazz, R&B, French and Latin music, reggae and Caribbean music. Past performers include Kenny G, Air Supply, John Legend, Rihanna, Santana, UB40, Kassav and many, many more. Contact: St Lucia Tourist Board P.O. Box 221, Sureline Building Vide Bouteille Castries Saint Lucia Tel. 758 452 4094 Fax. 758 453 1121 www.stluciajazz.org

Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ) is a Christian feast in honour of the Holy Eucharist. It was originally assigned to the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, thereby mirroring Holy Thursday, the Thursday of Holy Week, the day on which Christians commemorate The Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his apostles, seen as the first Holy Eucharist.

This is a thanksgiving celebration by the islands Fishermen. An early morning mass followed by the ceremonial blessing of the boats, which are richly decorated. Its very colorful and has a deep significance amongst the local fishermen. This celebration is a collaborative effort of the islands Fishermans co-operatives. They each have unique events that run simultaneously, but all start with a church service, and then may go into parties, lunches or other forms of entertainment.

Saint Lucia Carnival is a celebration and collage of Saint Lucian art, culture music and dance. The Carnival parade brings to a climax the celebration of Saint Lucian Carnival. Titles such as Carnival Queen, Calypso Monarch, Panorama Champions, and Party Monarch, among others, will have already been decided. On carnival Monday and Tuesday, revelers take to the streets in a bouillion of colour and music as each band strives to capture the coveted title of "Band of the Year".

A Unique Junior Tennis camp at Morgan Bay beach resort

Each morning, participants receive high level instruction and match play with top teaching pros and coaches. They also receive instruction on how to teach tennis. Each afternoon, adidas Tennis Camp participants will go to the nearby St. Lucia National Tennis Center to run a free camp for local kids from Castries and Gros Islet as part of a community service project coordinated with the St. Lucia Ministry of Sports. Letters noting the number of hours devoted to this project will be given to each participant. There will be an exciting island excursion which may be a hike or zipline through St. Lucia's lush rainforest. Also, campers will enjoy the all-Inclusive amenities of Morgan Bay beach resort which Includes free water sport activities!

For additional information please contact:
Matt Cook
US Phone Number: 203.418.8473
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www.tenniscamper.com

Emancipation Day is widely celebrated throughout the English-speaking Caribbean or British West Indies on the first Monday in August. It commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire on August 1, 1834.

This is one of two rival floral cultural festivals of St. Lucia. It is celebrated primarily in the more rural communities. After attending a religious service, members of the Flower Society parade the streets of their community dressed up in imitations of Kings and Queens, prince and princesses, doctors, nurses, policemen and soldiers. Traditionally, these two rival Flower Societies begin what is locally referred to as séances. These séances are essentially weekly meetings held by each group. At these meetings, there is one female singer or Chantwelle of each Society, who has the task of composing Belairs (tunes which are a blend of African and French expressions) which are sung in French Creole. In these songs, the Chantwelle and members give praise to their respective societies, while they light-heartedly disparage their rivals (the other Flower Society) in song and dance. The choruses of these songs are usually sung in unison to the accompaniment of saxophones, violins, the banjo, or any [traditional] musical instrument. These weekly séances culminate in the colourful festivals of the La Rose on August 30 and Les Marguerite on October 17 each year. It is quite the cultural treat and visitors are welcome to observe and participate.

There are no special events on the calendar for this month. Please check Year Round Events for available activities.

Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is associated with giving thanks to God for the harvest and expressing gratitude. While historically religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.

This is the second of two rival floral cultural festivals of St. Lucia. It is celebrated primarily in the more rural communities. After attending a religious service, members of the Flower Society parade the streets of their community dressed up in imitations of Kings and Queens, prince and princesses, doctors, nurses, policemen and soldiers. Traditionally, these two rival Flower Societies begin what is locally referred to as séances. These séances are essentially weekly meetings held by each group. At these meetings, there is one female singer or Chantwelle of each Society, who has the task of composing Belairs (tunes which are a blend of African and French expressions) which are sung in French Creole. In these songs, the Chantwelle and members give praise to their respective societies, while they light-heartedly disparage their rivals (the other Flower Society) in song and dance. The choruses of these songs are usually sung in unison to the accompaniment of saxophones, violins, the banjo, or any [traditional] musical instrument. These weekly séances culminate in the colourful festivals of the La Rose on August 30 and Les Marguerite on October 17 each year. It is quite the cultural treat and visitors are welcome to observe and participate.

This festival celebrates a popular yet un-official dialect of French, widely spoken in the Caribbean region. A mix of Kweyol (Creole) food, music, games and folklore come together to give this festival, home to the French influenced Caribbean islands but enjoyed by many more, a really unique flavour.

Saint Cecilia (Latin: Sancta Caecilia) is the patron saint of musicians and Church music. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches on November 22. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. It was long supposed that she was a noble lady of Rome who, with her husband Valerian (us) and his brother Thateus, suffered martyrdom, c. 230, under the emperor Alexander Severus.

National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a nation or non-sovereign country. This nationhood can be symbolized by the date of independence, of becoming republic or a significant date for a patron saint or a ruler (birthday, accession, removal etc.). Often the day is not called "National Day" but serves and can be considered as one. The National Day will often be a national holiday. Formerly Discovery Day, Saint Lucians have always observed and celebrated National Day for a number of years by going to church services, attending parades and rallies, organizing sports meetings, staging cultural presentations and recently, the focus has been on the spectacle of these cultural presentations in various communities using the visual imagery of light, in its many manifestation as with light sculptures, lantern contests, and other assimilations.

Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and many other Commonwealth countries on December 26, the day after Christmas Day; or alternatively on the next weekday after Christmas. The celebration is traditional, dating back to the middle ages. The name has numerous folk etymologies the Oxford English Dictionary attributes it to the Christmas box; the verb box meaning: "To give a Christmas-box (colloq.); hence boxing-day."

New Year's Eve is observed on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian calendar, the day before New Year's Day. New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day. In modern practice, fireworks, music, other forms of noisemaking, and alcoholic beverages are common elements of the New Year's Eve celebration. New Year's Eve is often celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight.