Calendar of Events- Martinique

The French Overseas Department of Martinique, a volcanic and picturesque island, is the northernmost of the Windward Caribbean group. The island is noticeably more rocky than those of the Leeward group, with beaches  surrounded by sugar, palm, banana and pineapple plantations. The calendar of events in Martinique is as follow:

2006 Martinique Calendar of Events

• January: Patron Saint's Day in Marin, Diamant and Trois-Ilets
• Jan. 1: New Year's Day. Public holiday. Family reunions and "at home" festivities
• Jan. 8: La Fête des Rois. Galette des rois (Epiphany cake) celebration
• Jan. 22: Grande Sware Bele. Drum concert in Sainte-Marie
• February: Patron Saint's Day in Trois-Ilets
• February: Carnaval Queen, Mini-Queen and Queen Mother are elected in each town
• February: Carnaval des Juniors. Children parade in Fort de France
• Feb. 10-11 & 17-18: Jazz Ici concerts
• Feb. 19: Coupe de Martinique. Sunfish, Laser, Hobbie, Formula and Mistral. Windsurf and Sailboat regattas, Schoelcher.
• Feb. 24 - Mar. 1: Nautical Week, in Schoelcher. Boat races and events themed to the sea
• Feb. 25- Mar. 1: Carnaval envelopes the island for four days. All business comes to a halt. Streets spill over with parties and parades. Carnival Queen is elected.
• Feb. 26: Dimanche Gras, (Fat Sunday). Bands in the streets; singing, dancing
• Feb. 28: Mardi Gras, (Shrove Tuesday). Costumed as "red devils," revelers parade around La Savane in Fort-de-France. Marching bands in afternoon; big dances at night
• Mar. 1: Ash Wednesday. Unlike elsewhere, Carnaval runs through 1st day of Lent. Black and white costumes form Vaval's (King Carnival's) final procession. Funeral pyre built, rum flows, passionate dancing
• Mar. 5: Yole boat races in Le Robert
• Mar. 12: Course de la Bébé Yole. Baby yole boat races at Baie des Mulets
• Mar. 8-12: Foire Expo de Dillon traditional exhibit and fair, in Fort-de-France
• Mar. 16-18: Rythme du Monde music and danse
• Mar. 19: Course de la Bébé Yole. Baby yole boat races in Robert
• Mar. 23: Mi-Carême, or Mid-Lent. Lenten fasting is suspended. Gala balls in most towns
• Mar. 26: Course de la Bébé Yole. Baby yole boat races at Baie des Mulets
• April: Foire Agricole de Rivière-Pilote. Agricultural exhibit and fair
• April: "Balana" Salon Nautique Inter-Caribéen de la Martinique. Boat exhibit and fair
• April: Les Voies de la Tradition, a ten day fair with concerts, exhibits, dance, food tasting in Fort-de-France
• Apr. 2: Course de la Bébé Yole "Blandine". Baby yole boat races in Marin
• Apr. 7-9: Convergence ou "Descente des Mornes", Festival in Ajoupa-Bouillon
• Apr. 9: Yole boat races in Diamant
• Apr. 14: Yole boat races in Ste Anne
• Apr. 14: Good Friday. Public Holiday, a day of religious processions
• Apr. 15: Randonuit, night hike, in Trois Ilets
• Apr. 16: Pâques (Easter) Sunday. Ecological 20 km Nature Walk, Le Prêcheur to Grand-Rivière
• Apr. 17: Easter Monday. Public holiday. Family beach picnics. Classic soccer game
• Apr. 17: La Patte d'Or, Easter Crab Festival in Lamentin
• Apr. 17: La Pince d'Or, Easter Crab Festival in Grand-Rivière
• April 17: Foire aux Crabes, crab festival, in Vauclin
• Apr. 23: Yole boat races in Fort-de-France
• Apr. 30: Coupe de la Martinique de la Bébé Yole. Baby Yole boat races in Robert
• Apr. 29: IAAF meeting (International Amateur Athletic Federation) Track Meet will once again bring together the most outstanding athletes from around the world
• May: Semaine Gastronomique de Sainte Marie. International cooking contest. Dining and dancing
• May: Patrons Saint's Day in Saint-Esprit and Saint-Joseph
• May: Lamentin Jazz Project
• May: Mai de Dillon, cultural events and shows
• May: Fête du Gommier, traditional fishing boat festival, in Sainte-Luce. Windsurfing Tour. Sainte Luce, Diamant, Trois Ilets
• May 1: Labor Day. Public holiday. Parades, yawl races, skeet shoots throughout island
• May 1: Course de la Bébé Yole "Me Lepos". Baby Yole boat races in Robert
• May 21: Coupe de Martinique. Sunfish, Laser, Hobbie, Formula and Mistral. Windsurf and Sailboat regattas, Le Robert and Anse d'Arlet
• May 6-7: Tchimbé Raid Mat'nik, 60k run
• May 8: Commemoration of Mont Pelée volcano eruption in 1902 in Saint-Pierre
• May 8: Victory 1945 celebrated
• May 22: Slavery Abolition Day. Public holiday. Celebrates the 153nd anniversary of the abolition of slavery. In Fort-de France and throughout island
• May 21-22: Challenge du 22 Mé. Yole boat races in Fort-de-France in Robert and Trinité
• May 22: Nan'nan Neg Marron, culinary event in Saint-Joseph
• May 25: Ascension Thursday, public holiday
• May 28: Mother's Day
• June: Patrons Saint's Day in Trinité, Basse-Pointe, Marigot, Saint-Pierre, Vauclin, Rivière-Salée
• June: Festival de Haute-Taille et des Quadrilles du Monde, dance festival in François
• June: Pineapple Festival, Ajoupa-Bouillon
• June: Sugar Cane Crop Over Festival, Sainte-Marie
• June 4: Pentecost Sunday
• June 10: Challenge Fun Kid. Funboard in Le Vauclin
• June 19 - July 8:La Route des Tepuys. Martinique to Venezuela yacht race deaprting from Le Marin
• July: Patrons Saint's Day in Gros-Morne, Anses d'Arlet, Carbet, Shoelcher, Macouba and Sainte-Anne
• July: Trempage Show, traditional breakfast competition, in Trinité
• July: Festival Culturel de la Ville de Fort-de-France. Music concerts, art exhibitions, and other cultural events
• July 7-16: Tour de la Martinique, weeklong bicycle race. International teams in mini-version of famed "Tour de France"
• July 14: Bastille Day, Public holiday. Parades and celebrations
• July 19: Bananniversaire at Musée de la Banane in Sainte-Marie
• July 19-30: Festival Biguine Jazz in Sainte-Marie
• July 30 - Aug. 6: Tour des Yoles Rondes. Unique to Martinique, this breathtakingly beautiful race of yoles rondes (yawls with rounded keels) departs Le François & sails around island in seven stopovers. Bring cameras, zoom lens & binoculars.
• August: Patrons Saint's Day in Bellefontaine, Lamentin, Case-Pilote, Sainte-Marie, Lorrain, Morne-Rouge and Robert
• August: Festival du Marin. Folk, religious and country music concerts, films, art exhibitions, and other cultural events
• August: Carrefour Martiniquais du Tambour, drum concerts, conferences and exhibitions
• Aug. 15: Assumption Day. Public holiday
• Aug. 15: Challenge Bébé Yole de la Baie des Mulets. Baby Yole boat races
• September: Patron Saint's Day in Ducos
• September: Tradition et Patrimoine, the village of Sainte-Marie celebrates traditions and heritage, creole costumes, music, dance, arts and crafts
• October: Patrons Saint's Day in François and Fonds-Saint-Denis
• October: Tournoi International de Pêche. Competition with neighboring islands, Le Marin
• Oct. 28: Journée Internationale du Créole, celebration of Creole
• November: Patrons Saint's Day in Morne-vert and Grand-Rivière
• November: Tournoi International de Pêche Sportive du Marin. Martinique Billfish Association. International Fishing Tournament. Competition
• November: Half-Marathon. 21.1 km race around Fort-de-France run by thousands of competitors
• Nov. 1: Toussaint (All Saints Day). Public holiday. Every cemetery illuminated with candles in memorable evening ceremony
• Nov. 2: All Souls Day. Public holiday
• Nov.5: Challenge Bébé Yole "Flech'La". Baby Yole boat races
• Nov. 11: Armistice Day (Veterans Day USA) Public holiday
• Nov. 22: St. Cecilia's Day. Music celebration in cities
• Nov. 26: Finale du Challenge des Yoles Rondes. Final Yole boat races in Fort-de-France
• December: Patrons Saint's Day in Rivière-Pilote, Sainte-Luce and Ajoupa-Bouillon
• December: Rencontre Internationale de Gospel. International Gospel festival
• December: Festival International de Jazz. Jazz festival
• December: Biguin's Regatta. 60' Multi-hull boat race
• December: Capitale en Fête, Fort-de-France celebrates Christmas, entertainment, music, dance, exhibits
• Dec. 24: Christmas Eve. Midnight Mass, followed by le réveillon, a feast of warm patés, boudin créole, pork stew, fine rum drinks like orange-flavored shrubb, singing and dancing
• Dec. 25: Noël (Christmas Day). All the trimmings with a tropical touch
• Dec. 31: Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre (New Year's Eve). Dining and dancing at hotels and restaurants

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