St Martin/St Maarten / Special Interests / Carnivals & Festivals

The holiday calendar on St Martin/Maarten includes celebrations that are held on both sides of the island to reflect a common Christian heritage – most obviously the Easter and Christmas holidays. In addition there are festivals specific to the French and Dutch people, for example Bastille Day on 14 July is a holiday in St Martin, as is the Queen's Birthday on 30 April in St Maarten. Both cultures stage elaborate carnivals in spring when everyone dresses up in colourful costumes for a loud parade with dancing and banner waving. Steel bands, rum punches and stalls selling street food add to the festive atmosphere.

Some key events on St Martin & Maaten are listed below:

Festival Grand-Case – live music and stalls enliven Tuesday nights here from January to April (St Martin)

Carnaval – February is carnival time on the French side

St Maarten Carnival – April is carnival time on the Dutch side

Journée de Poisson (Fish Day) – every 1 May Cul-de-Sac has a big party to celebrate the joys of fish and seafood (St Martin)

Fête de Saint-Louis et Rambaud – in May these two villages team up for a neighbourhood festival (St Martin)

Bastille Day – 14 July is a public holiday with celebrations in Marigot (St Martin)

Fête de Sandy Ground – a local festival held every 15 August (St Martin)

St Martin's Day - 11 November celebrates the discovery of the island by Christopher Colombus in 1493 (St Martin/St Maarten)