2020 Calendar of Events
St. Lucia’s annual calendar is filled with vibrant festivals and events celebrating the island’s dual cultural heritage as well as international sporting competitions and artistic exhibitions.
New Year’s Fair – Kicking off the New Year, this festive event is held from January 1st and 2nd and marked with cultural events, street fairs, music and traditional Creole food and drink.
Start of the Cricket season – Cricket is by far one of St. Lucia’s leading spectator sports. St. Lucia is usually host to a one-day international cricket game at its Beausejour state of the art cricket grounds, located in Gros Islet. Most St. Lucian cricket fans are West Indies [team] loyalist and take the game very seriously, others, use the event as and opportunity for a partying and entertainment.
Nobel Laureate Week – Saint Lucia sets aside one week each year to celebrate the achievements of its two Nobel laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott who won the Nobel Prizes in Economics (1979) and Literature (1992) respectively. Various Poetry readings, Workshops and Plays are held at different locations throughout the week.
Independence Day – Saint Lucia celebrates Independence day on 22nd February. Official parades and special activities mark the occasion. Former colonial powers, Great Britain and France, send military contingents to participation in the celebrations. Independence Day is a national holiday.
International Earth Day – This event organised by the St Lucia National Trust is marked with a special sunrise and sunset ceremony that celebrates the island natural beauty.
Soleil Saint Lucia Summer Festivals  – In 2018, Saint Lucia has launched an ambitious initiative – a Summer of Festivals – aimed at bringing tangible and lasting economic, social and cultural benefits to the country and its people. Building on Saint Lucia’s outstanding artistic talent and rich cultural heritage and on its experience in designing and hosting unique events in the past, Soleil Festivals include celebrations such as the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival, Roots & Soul Festival, Saint Lucia Carnival, Country & Blues Festival, Art and Heritage Festival, and Saint Lucia Food & Rum Festival.
For further information visit HTTP://WWW.STLUCIA.ORG/SUMMERFESTIVAL/
Fisherman’s feast – A religious celebration with important meaning beginning with a blessing of the ships in the harbour, followed by feasting and drinking well into the next day.
World Environment Day – Organised by the St Lucia National Trust, thousands of people have participated in this national walk over the years in support of World Environment Day on June 5th.
Carnival – St. Lucia’s Carnival stands out as one of the major festivals in St. Lucia. A highly traditional event, Carnival festivities usually includes competitions and performances by masquerade (Mas) bands, calypso and soca singers, steel bands and beauty contestants. The highlight of the celebration usually takes place during the second week in July beginning on the weekend and ending on Tuesday (Monday and Tuesday are public holidays). Carnival has been cancelled for 2020 by Saint Lucia Government
Emancipation Day – A celebration of freedom and human rights held on the first week of August every year, this day commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies by the British Empire on August 1, 1834.
Chocolate Heritage Month – A month-long of activities recognizing the role cacao and its beloved byproduct chocolate has played in St. Lucia’s history. A number of on-island experiences and festivities will delve into Saint Lucia’s cacao roots, offering travelers unbeatable island-wide hotel and resort promotions for plenty of chocolaty fun.
International Creole day, Jounen Kweyol Entenasyonnal – A celebration of Creole culture for the French influenced Caribbean islands, this festival includes conferences and workshops on things Creole like traditional food, music and folklore.
St Lucia Bill Fishing Tournament – One of the most prestigious international sport-fishing tournament in the world where over three days, anglers from around the globe come to compete in this qualifying event for the world championships. The biggest and largest catches are displayed at the Rodney Bay Marina at the end of the day and awarded with a prize.
Saint Lucia Health & Wellness Retreat – Total rejuvenation has never looked better. The 2013 Saint Lucia Health and Wellness Retreat promises to provide an even more remarkable way to fuel your mind, body and spirit. With acclaimed experts covering a vast range of topics, you will be sure to find a programme that will elevate you to new heights.
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)Â – This event is an annual transatlantic sailing competition for racer and cruiser yachts since 1986 which starts at the end of November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and ends before Christmas at the IGY Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucia. The route takes between 14 and 21 days aided by trade winds, and covers over 2700 nautical miles.
Festival of Lights and Renewal – St Lucy of Syracuse the saint of light and patron of the island is honoured every year on December 13th with beautiful displays of Christmas lights and lantern-making competitions happening all around the island as well as a lantern parade in Castries followed by spectacular fireworks.
