Special events

Fridays (Weekly)                                                                

Gros Islet – Friday Night ‘Jump Up’

On Friday evenings the place to be is a small fishing village called Gros Islet, just north of Rodney Bay. Gros Islet’s narrow streets are dotted with candy-coloured houses and they provide the perfect backdrop for jammin’ Jump Ups. Here the local residents set up and host street barbeques, street bars and sound systems. The sizzling smells of barbequed fish gently waft through the streets, smooth sounds fill the air and party-goers dance the night away.

Saint Lucia Food & Rum Festival 

This is the revival of a festival that first took place in 2006, a gastronomic event to attract the best chefs, wine connoisseurs, rum fanatics and food critiques from the Caribbean and internationally. Inspired in part by the outstanding achievements of Chefs Nina Compton and Doran Payne, this unique event promotes Saint Lucian and other Caribbean rums, restaurants, chefs, and regionally manufactured food and drink products to a regional and international audience, with food demonstrations, rum tasting, wine tasting, gastronomic dinners and community culinary experiences, all accompanied by musical and other artistic performances by young artists from Saint Lucia.

February 22nd (Annual event)                                                                

Saint Lucia Independence Day

On 22nd February 1979, Saint Lucia became independent from Britain. The date is a national holiday and is marked with official parades.

May (Annual event)

St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival

St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is held every year in the spring. During the festival visitors can enjoy diverse jazz concerts, various art shows, street parties and many more surprises. Performances take place during the day and at night, at sweeping venues and intimate spots, all around St. Lucia. Some shows are indoors, but most happen outdoors to take advantage of the sublime scenery.

June/July (Annual event)

Saint Lucia Carnival

Pumping rhythms, sexy costumes and the people dancing under the warm Caribbean sun; welcome to Saint Lucia Carnival! Almost on the heels of the annual Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, Saint Lucia’s cultural landscape morphs into a flurry of chrome plated steel drums, feathers, and beads. No matter where you are or who you are, Saint Lucia Carnival is something to behold. But it won’t be Carnival without the ‘wining’ and jumping and non-stop partying.

August (Annual event)

Roots & Soul Festival 

A festival dedicated to musicians who are setting new trends in reggae, conscious hip-hop, Afro-punk and R&B, with performances, master classes and encounters between artists and other actors in the music business.

October (Annual event)

Arts & Heritage

Building on the celebration of Creole Day, which began in Saint Lucia in 1981, this month-long Festival is a celebration of the richness and diversity of Saint Lucia’s cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage. With musical, theatrical and other performances, with seminars and lectures, with varied culinary experiences, with street parties and with art exhibitions, this Festival will culminate on the week-end of 28 – 29 October with a celebration of International Creole Day in designated communities, marking the end of Saint Lucia’s first Summer of Festivals.

November (Annual event)

Saint Lucia Triathlon

The Saint Lucia Triathlon is the culmination of a week-long festival of fun activities. To ensure that there is something for all levels of competitors there will be a choice of different courses.

November/December (Annual event)

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)

Each year over 200 yachts join in the world’s largest transoceanic sailing event, from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. The 2,700 nautical mile crossing takes two to three weeks and end in Rodney Bay marina, where concerts and celebrations are held to welcome the sailors. Every boat is welcomed with rum punches, fresh fruit and chilled beer. No matter what time of day or night, the welcome party will be ready for you! There is so much to do on Saint Lucia that many yachts stay on the Island for Christmas, enjoying the warm Saint Lucian hospitality and beautiful island.

December 13th (Annual event)                                                              

National Day

Saint Lucia’s Day is the Church feast day dedicated to St. Lucy of Syracuse, the patron saint of light. On 13th December, in honour of St Lucy, elegant displays of Christmas lights appear and lantern-making competitions are held around the island. The National Festival of Lights and Renewal is held the night before the holiday. In this celebration, decorative lights are lit in the capital city of Castries and the official activities end with a spectacular fireworks display. The date is know as also National Day.