Let’s get festive!
Could parading or “rushing” through the streets of The Bahamas be the best possible start to the New Year? Junkanoo (1 January) begins in the cool darkness — from approximately 2am — with traditional, percussive music (cowbells, horns, whistles, and goatskin drums) echoing through the streets as masqueraders dance (some with high-spirited dance routines) in colourful costumes.
Further south, at Maroon Fest (5–6 January) in Accompong, Jamaica, commemorate the signing of the historic peace treaty over 285 years ago that ended the war between the Maroons and the British. Highlights include the Captain Cudjoe Awards Ceremony, young warriors competitions, an Indigenous Peoples get-together, and live shows.
St Lucia’s Nobel Laureate Festival (5–31 January) presents 30 events (dances, seminars, exhibitions, and workshops) celebrating culture, saluting the island’s Nobel Laureates Sir Derek Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis, and honouring other notable St Lucians — like St Lucia’s first ever Olympic medallist Julien Alfred, who won 100m gold at the Paris Olympics last year.
Puerto Rico’s Three Kings Day (6 January) sees over 25,000 people filling the streets of Juana Díaz to celebrate the Epiphany Festival & Parade. Don’t miss the actors on horseback — with thick beards and vibrant robes — portraying the three kings, Magi, or wise men.
Trade winds fill the sails of boats competing in offshore and inshore races at the RORC Transatlantic Race ending in Grenada (12 January), Barbados Sailing Week (17–22 January), Grenada Sailing Week (26–31 January), Montego Bay Pineapple Cup (23–31 January), Caribbean Multihull Challenge (31 January–2 February), RORC Nelson’s Cup Series (18–21 February), and RORC Caribbean 600 Series (24–28 February).
Miami’s Art Deco Weekend (18–20 January) promises fun tours, live music, a classic car show, a diverse lecture series, and more! But first, the Cayman Cookout (15–20 January) on Grand Cayman offers a thrilling range of experiences with elegant displays of food and wine.
Lovers of reggae and dancehall won’t want to miss Jamaica’s Rebel Salute (17–18 January), before immersing themselves in the tribute concerts, symposia, and live shows — many featuring some of the genres’ most renowned artists — during Reggae Month (February) in Kingston, a UNESCO City of Music.
If you’ve heard of Basil’s Bar on Mustique, chances are you’re also familiar with the Mustique Blues Festival (22 January–5 February). For almost 30 years, international blues artistes have transformed the bar into “The House of Blues”, making the festival a highlight on Mustique’s annual calendar. The Bequia Music Festival (30 January–2 February) is also a must-do in the Grenadines.
Cheer on the best equestrians from Martinique and Guadeloupe at the Martingale Jumping Show (24–26 January) in Guadeloupe, hosted by the Martingale Equestrian Centre and featuring a thrilling display of skill, speed, and precision.
Calling all anglers! Join the legends of the sea when you reel in a record-breaking catch at Grenada’s Spice Island Billfish Tournament (27–31 January).
Fireworks decorate the sky in Suriname for the lunisolar Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (29 January), ushering in the Year of the Snake with the traditional lion dance, reunions, and parades. Suriname is the only country in the Western Hemisphere to recognise it as a public holiday.
Going home with a few books is almost inevitable at the Havana International Book Fair (3–13 February). Bask in the readings and concerts, children’s activities, art exhibitions, and lively atmosphere.
Over in Belize, discover the handicrafts and masterpieces of local and regional artists and artisans at the Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival (8–9 February).
Initially called Jamestown, Holetown was the first English settlement in Barbados (1625). Bajans and visitors alike celebrate its history at the annual Barbados Holetown Festival (9–16 February), featuring the Soca Rumble and Grand Floodlit Tattoo, plus a street fair, 5K, historical bus tours, and parades.
Guyana celebrates its Republic Day with Mashramani (23 February), bringing joy to everyone with chutney soca performances, calypso and soca music contests, street parades, and vibrant revellers on floats with nation-building messages.
If you’re in Trinidad for Carnival, don’t miss Monday Madness (24 February) — formerly Machel Monday — with performances by soca powerhouses Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, Nadia Batson, Nailah Blackman, and many more at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
Carnival time again
Speaking of Carnival … this year’s pre-Lenten carnival season across the diaspora is a long one, with many celebrations culminating in early March. But January and February are when a lot of the action is — especially in Trinidad & Tobago.
La Vega and Santiago Carnivals, Dominican Republic
12 February
Encarnación Carnival, Paraguay
25 January–15 February
Carnaval de Ponce, Puerto Rico
21 February–4 March
Carnaval de San Pedro, Belize
23 February
Carnival of Oruro, Bolivia
24 February–5 March
Martinique Carnival
26 February–4 March
Curaçao Carnival
28 February–5 March
Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Brazil
28 February–8 March
Barranquilla Carnival, Colombia
1–4 March
Aruba Carnival
1–2 March
Guadeloupe Carnival
2–5 March
El Callao Carnival, Venezuela
3 March
Los Diablos Danzantes, Venezuela
3 March
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival
Through 4 March
Carriacou Shakespeare Mas
3–4 March
New Orleans Mardi Gras, USA
4 March
Ecuador Carnival
4 March
Carnaval Miami, USA
9 March
The Caribbean Carnival Mecca
The beauty of mas, mixed with the charm of Trinbagonian people, and the rich history of the islands’ culture and masquerade traditions make Trinidad & Tobago Carnival a bucket list experience like no other. Leading up to the highly anticipated Parade of the Bands (3–4 March), myriad parties, cultural showcases and competitions (featuring costumes, steelpan, stickfighting, soca and calypso, and more), and major events like Kambule, Panorama, Dimanche Gras, and J’ouvert keep Carnival enthusiasts pumping. Through the season, sleep is but a concept! Come Carnival Monday and Tuesday, “play a mas” as Carnival lovers take to the streets for one of the biggest, best, and most beautiful street parties in the world.