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Festival Fun In The Caribbean
o matter what your Martinique, St. Barthelemy, and
interest you're sure to Saint Martin - but not Sint
find something to do in the Maarten. The Dominican Republic,
Caribbean year round. However, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominica,
travelers who enjoy taking part Montserrat, and Trinidad and
in cultural exploration have an Tobago also share these Carnival
especially well-suited option in dates.
the islands - the many delightful
festivals of the Caribbean. In Sint Maarten, the Cayman
Islands, Haiti, and Jamaica,
Carnival Events Carnival falls directly during
Easter week, and those in Cuba,
The best-known Caribbean festival the Dominican Republic, and
is Carnival, sometimes spelled Puerto Rico continue their
Carnaval. On many islands this celebrations from the week before
event takes place just before Ash onto Easter itself. At the end of
Wednesday, but the dates vary April, vacationers can enjoy
from island to island. This event Carnival on St. Thomas in the
is generally characterized by an U.S. Virgin Islands.
island-wide party, so parents
with younger children may want to With Sint Eustatius (sometimes
keep this in mind, while those called Statia), St. Lucia, and
interested in becoming a part of Antigua and Barbuda travelers can
island culture will usually enjoy take part in the festivities of a
this event. Caribbean Carnival in July.
Grenada's Carnival falls in
Traditional Carnival dates are August while St. Kitts'
followed throughout much of the year-ending Carnival festival is
Dutch and French Antilles: Aruba, celebrated for a week beginning
Bonaire, Curaçao, Guadeloupe, on Christmas Eve.
year-round.
Every island celebrates
differently, and one thing you The Barbados Jazz Festival is one
can be sure to find is a colorful of the Caribbean's most popular
expression of an island's jazz festivals. Called "Paint it
culture. Carnival is particularly Jazz," the event is generally
known for its festivities filled held early in the year, around
with traditional characters from the middle of January, which is
island lore. Often, a king and the same month a different type
queen are named for the event of crowd converges on the U.S.
and, though all Carnival Virgin Islands for the St. Croix
celebrations include music, on Blues and Heritage Festival. In
some islands musicians vie for February, travelers can enjoy
competitive titles. If you're Jamaican styles at the Negril
looking for a sure way to see and Music Festival.
hear the best the islands have to
offer, Carnival is one cultural In May, the sounds of jazz are
event you shouldn't miss. easy to find. Curaçao's KLM Jazz
Festival happens early in the
Mass Music month, and the St. Lucia
International Jazz Festival opens
While music is a necessity in its doors mid-month. At the end
Carnival celebrations, it's also of May, those who like jazz can
something islands take particular also stop in at the Heineken Jazz
pride in. Islands often host Festival on Puerto Rico or visit
annual festivals featuring the Antigua for their Jazz Festival.
cream of the crop in reggae,
jazz, soca, and more. With so June opens with Jamaica's Ocho
many music festivals in the Rios Jazz Festival, and those who
region, it's easy to find one enjoy reggae may want to stop by
in late July or early August for Every island has its own local
the Reggae Sumfest. Merengue fans festivals. While many include
also have something to look Independence Day or the
forward to in July, when the celebration of a ruler's birth,
Dominican Republic hosts the there are some traditional
Merengue Festival. festivals that differ among the
islands. Of course, most islands
Curacao invites travelers to host plenty of local festivals,
listen to jazz again at the but some of the most famous
Curacao Jazz Festival in early parties include the following:
October, but those who would like
to stop in the Dominican Republic * Puerto Rico celebrates its
can also enjoy their Annual Jazz agriculture with a Coffee Harvest
Festival early in the month. Festival for its popular mountain
While Jamaica kicks things off in brew. You can celebrate alongside
November with the Air Jamaica the locals in mid-February.
Jazz and Blues Festival, Trinidad
is host to the Pan Jazz Festival * Reggae lovers will find plenty
mid-month. to enjoy on the island of Jamaica
around January 6th, when Reggae
Those who like music, Sunsplash coincides with the Bob
particularly jazz, will always Marley Birthday Bash.
find it in the Caribbean, but a
music festival in these islands * Pirates Week is a popular time
is a unique experience. Enjoy to enjoy the Cayman Islands,
these events year-round across especially for the young at
the islands. heart. This celebration of
pirates and the past takes place
Local Socials on the last week of October.
* Sailors can enjoy Antigua of the best-known Caribbean
Sailing Week at the end of April. events.
This popular celebration has
included as many as 1,500 No matter when you're planning a
participants, with 5,000 trip to the islands, you're sure
onlookers watching some of the to find something being
world's top sailors. celebrated. On some islands towns
each have their own local
* Historically, Barbadian field celebrations, while on others you
workers celebrated the end of the may find that other events are
growing season in July or early more important. However,
August, and this tradition has celebrations make a fun way to
carried forward in the form of see the Caribbean.
Barbados' Crop Over Festival, one
About the Author:
Jennifer Smith writes for http://DominicanRepublic-Guide.info , http://Trinidad-Guide.info , and other Segisys travel Web sites. "© 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.
Learn more about festivals here: http://caribbean-guide.info/what_to_see_and_do/
Source: www.isnare.com
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