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Heavily influenced by English and French cultures, Grenada boasts a multitude of festivals, both sporting & social in nature. The most prominent festivals of Grenada are the annual Grenada Sailing Festival and the Carriacou & Grenada Carnivals. |
New Year's Day Celebrations (January)
Officially a public holiday, the advent of the New Year is celebrated amidst gala balls and parties at hotels and clubs in Grenada. Church services are held throughout the island.
La Source Grenada Sailing Festival (January)
Held during the closing week of January every year, the La Source Grenada Sailing Festival draws sailing enthusiasts from all over the world and features boat races and regattas. Festival highlights include the day-long craft market and street festivities. Since its inception in 1994, the La Source Grenada Festival has placed Grenada on the international map for sailing in the Caribbean.
Carnivals (February & August)
The twin Carnivals of Grenada constitute one of the primary sources of entertainment to its inhabitants and of course, endless streams of tourists. In all probability, Grenada is the only country to have 2 annual Carnivals – the Carriacou Carnival in February and the Grenada Carnival in August.
Carriacou Carnival (February)
Carnival on the island of Carriacou is held during Pre-Lenten time in February. The 2 day Parade of the Bands is accompanied by jolly music and gaiety; prior to this, there is a Kiddies Carnival and several competitions to select the King and Queen of the Mas Bands and the Calypso Monarch.
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Grenada Carnival (August) Wildly colourful and evocative of the country’s unique cultural history, the Grenada Carnival is truly a national event. The traditional costumes/mas of revellers are representative of each parish and the main action unfolds on the streets of the capital, St. George.
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Grenada Carnival commences with the opening of Calypso Tents in July, when local bards stage musicals for locals and visitors; all performers compete for a chance to display their talents at the National Calypso Monarch Competition.
The Carnival activities gather momentum in early August; cultural presentations & calypso shows are held almost every night and the evenings resound with the music by steel bands rehearsing their tunes for the upcoming Panorama competition.
The rundown to the Carnival starts 1 week prior, with the opening of the Rainbow City Festival/La Baye in Grenville, Grenada’s second largest town. La Baye is essentially a crafts and cultural exhibition, synonymous with fun and parties on the streets and alleys of Grenville. This is followed by the Carnival National Carnival Queen Show, where Grenada’s young ladies compete in Carnival costume, evening gown & cultural performance categories. The festivities culminate in the Dimarche Gras Show on the final Sunday, that features the Kings and Queens of Fancy Mas Bands, competing for the titles of King & Queen of Carnival.
