A roundup of St Lucia’s 2006 festivals, sport tournaments, public holidays and weekly events
Press release of the St Lucia Tourist Board
While St Lucia has many attractions to keep travellers busy year round, a visit can be extra special when it coincides with one of the island’s many festivals and special events. Following are some island highlights in 2006:
WEEKLY EVENTS
Friday nights, The Gros Islet Jump Up:
Every Friday at about 9pm, the sleepy fishing village of Gros Islet, at the north end of the island near Rodney Bay, hosts a bustling street party. A sound system faces the central intersection and pumps out Caribbean and world rhythms while vendors sell seafood, barbecued chicken and local beverages. St Lucians and tourists mingle and dance until the wee hours. Jump Up, which is St Lucian for “dancing in the street,” is one of the most fun and authentic island experiences in the Caribbean.
Friday nights, Anse La Raye Seafood Friday: Beginning at 6:30pm every Friday night, streets in Anse La Raye, a charming fishing village north of Soufriere, are closed to vehicles for a block party celebrating local music and seafood. Anse La Raye residents prepare Caribbean specialties for neighbours and tourists, including fish cakes, fried or stewed fish and even a whole spiny lobster when in season. Walk around, eat, chat with St Lucians and listen to live music in the village square.
Saturday nights, Dennery Fish Fiesta: Every Saturday night Dennery, a small fishing village on the Atlantic/east coast of the island, hosts Fish Fiesta, which is similar to Seafood Friday in Anse La Raye except this event is held on the waterfront. Come prepared to dance barefoot in the sand and enjoy expertly prepared seafood dishes, including dorado, tuna and the local favourite, accra (fried codfish balls in a piquant sauce) and roast bakes. This is an authentic St Lucian-style beach party not to be missed.
MAJOR EVENTS
May 5-14, 15th Anniversary of St Lucia Jazz:
Established in 1992, this annual event has gained the reputation as one of the premier music events in the Caribbean and one of the top jazz festivals in the world. The festival features international and local jazz, R&B and soul greats performing in a wide range of indoor and outdoor venues across the island, including the main stage on historic Pigeon Island. Fringe venues include Gaiety on Rodney Bay, Derek Walcott Square in the heart of Castries, Vieux Fort Square, Balembouche Estate and the Soufriere waterfront. Past performers include Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Carlos Santana, Patti Labelle and jazz greats Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Jordan, Roy Hargrove and George Benson. BET, the presenting sponsor of St Lucia Jazz, features scheduled performances of previous jazz shows on the Bet Jazz Channel.
July 17-18, Carnival:
If you missed Carnival in Trinidad or Rio, don’t fret. St Lucia’s festival is held the third Monday and Tuesday of July. Locals spend weeks preparing elaborately designed and very colourful costumes for the parade, which winds through the streets of Castries. Prizes are awarded for best band and for the Calypso King and Queen. There are parties and concerts throughout the island in the weeks preceding Carnival.
Early December, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers:
This annual trans-Atlantic yacht race is the world’s largest trans-ocean sailing event with more than 200 yachts. The yachts depart Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, in November and rendezvous at St Lucia’s Rodney Bay Marina in early December. The end of the race is marked by a week of festivities and parties with a prize-giving ceremony on December 18.
2006 EVENT CALENDAR
January
1-2, New Year celebrations:
New Year celebrations continue with the annual Assou Square celebrations hosted by the Cultural Development Foundation and Folk Research Centre. Enjoy two days of fun with activities geared towards youth – rides, games, talent shows, traditional folk displays as well booths with food, drink, novelty and cultural items on sale.
February
22, 27th Anniversary of Independence:
This year St Lucians celebrate their 27th year of independence from Britain, which was granted in 1979. The Royal St Lucia Police Force and other uniformed groups will stage the annual Independence Day Parade at the Mindoo Philip Park on Independence Day. Nominees for national service awards will also receive their various honours at the Order of Saint Lucia Investiture Ceremony to be held at Government House at 3pm. Other planned activities include the St Lucia Athletics Association Independence Track and Field Meet at the National Sports Stadium and a number of island-wide community activities.
March
17-20, Rodney Heights Sixth Inter-Club Invitational:
For the sixth year the Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre hosts its annual Inter-Club Invitational Swim Meet, which is expected to see 300 swimmers this year. Several countries in the region are earmarked for participation and local clubs will showcase all the swimming talent St Lucia has to offer.
April
TBD, St Lucia Golf Open:
The St Lucia Open Golf Championships 2006 is organized by the St Lucia Golf Association at the St Lucia Golf & Country Club. The tournament consists of two medal rounds on the Saturday and Sunday with a practice round on that Friday. It is open to any golfer with a certified handicap from his/her club and usually attracts about 80 players from all over the Caribbean and sometimes as far away as the US and UK, as well as many local members of the SLGCC and the SLGA.
22, Soleil Leve, (International Earth Day):
St Lucia joins millions of other people in observing the largest non-religious holiday in the world. St Lucia’s Earth Day celebrations include ceremonies at soleil leve (sunrise) and soleil couche (sunset). The St Lucia National Trust organizes these events and encourages the enjoyment of outdoor activities that celebrate the natural heritage of the Earth.
May
10, Cricket Matches:
St Lucia’s new, state-of-the-art Beausejour Cricket Ground, located in the north of the island, plays host to several cricket matches in 2006. On May 10 West Indies will compete against Zimbabwe, the featured match in 2006 and the first-ever day/night cricket match to be hosted by a Caribbean country. The St Lucia Tourist Board maintains a complete list of cricket matches.
June
8, Sir Vivian Richards Golf Tournament:
The St Lucia Golf & Country Club hosts the 5th annual Sir Viv Golf Tournament as other cricketing and sporting greats join Sir Vivian – one of the world’s best batsmen – on the 18-hole course.
9-13, Cricket match:
Head to the Beausejour Cricket Ground for the West Indies vs India Test series.
29, Fisherman’s Feast:
Every St Peter’s Day St Lucians honour the patron saint of fishermen with the Fisherman’s Feast. This one-day festival begins with a church service, which is followed by the blessing of brightly decorated boats and boat sheds. Feasting lasts all day and into the early morning hours.
July
On-going, Kids Summer Safari:
This on-going, summer-long event brings together local and visiting children between the ages of five and 18 years to learn about St Lucia’s environment, folk traditions and history. Activities include hiking, canoeing, crafts, birdwatching and photography.
15-16, Carnival Rugby Festival:
The first-ever regional rugby festival will see the participation of at least six countries from the Caribbean in this energy-charged event scheduled just before Carnival.
August
1, Emancipation Day and National Heroes Day:
St Lucia joins other former British colonies to celebrate the abolition of slavery in 1838.
30, Feast of St Rose De Lima:
La Rose, one of two cultural organizations that began as secret societies during the period of slavery (the other being La Marguerite), produces an annual flower festival featuring all-night séances with performances of special indigenous songs and dances, as well as a parade. The La Rose and the La Marguerite each try to outdo the other during their respective festivals.
October
TBD, International Billfishing Tournament:
Held yearly in late September or early October, this three-day competition attracts top anglers from all over the Caribbean. Prizes are awarded for the biggest catch, and any fish weighing less than 250 pounds is returned to the sea.
Month long, Jounen Kwéyòl Entenaysonnal (Creole Heritage Month):
African, French, Caribbean/Arawak and English cultures came together to form the unique Creole (Kwéyòl) culture of St Lucia. Throughout October many villages host festivities celebrating their unique character during which St Lucians and visitors take part in activities such as Creole food fairs, dancing lessons and demonstrations and historic walking tours.
17, Feast of La Marguerite:
The La Marguerite festival tends to be less flamboyant than that of the La Rose group (see August), but consists of similar all-night séances with special songs, dances and a parade.
21-28, Helen of the West Indies Netball Club Festival:
Netball Clubs from around the region converge on St Lucia for what is described as the greatest showdown in female sporting disciplines. Defending champions Elite of St Lucia will attempt to hold onto their crown as they compete for more than US$6000 in prize money.
28, International Creole Day:
The last Sunday in October is the grand finale of Creole Heritage Month. Throughout October a number of pre-Creole Day activities are held creating anticipation leading up to Jounen Kwéyòl. Some of the day’s activities include mass in Creole, a fair of traditional and indigenous foods, crafts, games, traditional dances and demonstrations of customs, as well as Creole entertainment at its best.
November
26, Sandals to Sandals 10K:
Sandals Resorts in St Lucia hosts the annual 10km road race between its Sandals Grande and Sandals Halcyon properties on the island. The route encompasses some gently rising hills along the Castries-Gros Islet highway.
December
TBD, Christmas Folk Fiesta:
This two-day event, sponsored by the Folk Research Center, celebrates Caribbean Christmas in a traditional manner. A St Lucian choir performs traditional Christmas carols while guests and locals enjoy food and drinks.
13, National Day & Festival of Lights and Renewal:
The focus on National Day is building pride in the country with sporting, cultural, religious, social and commercial activities, such as the Festival of Lights, featuring a lantern-making competition and the decoration of towns and villages with lights. Other events include the National festival of carols, a festival of musical bands and a market festival.
For information on the island of St Lucia call the St Lucia Tourist Board at 1-888-4-STLUCIA.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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