When is Carnival in St. Maarten?
The officialΒ dates for the 2022 St. Maarten Carnival will run from Saturday April 16th 2022 until Tuesday May 3rd 2022. The St. Maarten Carnival is officially the longest carnival or festival in the entire region. Its celebrations span 18 days in 2022.
Where is the St. Maarten Carnival?
St. Maarten/St. MartinΒ is a tiny island located in the Caribbean. It is actually the smallest island in the world that is shared by two nations, France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This gives the island its unique European-influenced, CaribbeanΒ vibe.
The capital city is PhilipsburgΒ which is where most of the carnival activities will occur at the custom built carnival villageΒ called the St. Maarten Carnival VillageΒ which is the epicentre for everything that occurs during carnival.
What is Carnival in St. Maarten?
Carnival in St. MaartenΒ is like mixing New Yearβs revelry, costumed paradesΒ and lots of loud calypso, socaΒ and steelpan bandΒ music together. While Trinidad CarnivalβsΒ is the largest and most popular in the region, St. Marten CarnivalΒ has the longest carnival seasonΒ and has been growing in popularity year after year.
St. Maarten CarnivalΒ is all about bringing together people from all different backgrounds and cultures. Carnival in St. MaartenΒ is like a West IndiesΒ block party, where no matter your age, race or background everyone mixes together and has the time of their life.
Carnival in St. MaartenΒ is the ultimate celebration of life. It spreads joy across the island and is all about showcasing and enjoying the local culture, food, music and pageantry. St. Maarten CarnivalΒ is the biggest event of the year and one of the islandβs main largest attractions!
How do they celebrate carnival in St. Maarten?
For two months the locals unite and hit the streets dressed in costumes, singing, dancing, making music and enjoying life! St. Maarten CarnivalΒ is all about celebrating the local culture and heritage. It reflects the many influences and colorful identity of the island.
Every day the island hostβs an exciting event to embrace and celebrate St. Maartenβs rich history and culture. CarnivalΒ is celebrated with parades, concerts, calypso competitions, steelpan bands, reggae bands, feathers, dancing, lots of feasting and drinking, partying, costumes, pageants and more.
Carnival Village
St. Maartenβs Carnival VillageΒ is like nothing else in the Caribbean, or the world for that matter. It is the worldβs first purposely-built carnival venue, the St. Maartenβs Carnival Village. The Carnival Village makes St. Maartenβs CarnivalΒ one of the most unique Caribbean Carnivals.
It is essentially a giant rectangular shaped enclosure that is sort of reminiscent of an old country fair but with an unmistakable Caribbean vibe. There are around 80 booths which transform into shops, bars and eateries. Selling toys, arts, craft, clothes, and of course local delicacies like Johnny cakes or BBQ meats.
The Carnival VillageΒ also features a permanent state-of-the-art concert stage where major local and international concerts put on shows. This Β year the three major international headliners will be Ashanti, Keyshia ColeΒ andΒ Ja Rule. They will be joined by local artists Kenyo Baly and Natisha Hanson.
What is the history of Carnival in St. Maarten?
The first ever St. Maarten CarnivalΒ took place in 1970βs on St. Maartenβs DayΒ which is the 11thΒ November. It initially started out as an initiative by the Oranje Committee to celebrate the island and to attract tourism.
Two committee members were sent to St. Thomas Carnival, with the intention of recreating a similar celebration in St. Maarten. The first carnival was funded by local businesses who donated to the festivities with bands, troupes, food, drinks and even free electricity all provided to the first celebration.
The French part of the island starting to host their own St Maartenβs DayΒ celebrations which stole a bit of the carnivalβs thunder. So the celebrations were moved to the Queenβs birthday, April 30th, to host the Grand Carnival Parade. More celebrations and festivities started to take place around the parade, to keep the good times rolling and the carnival continued to grow.
St. Maarten CarnivalΒ is absolutely jam packed with everything a carnival-lover could possible want. There will be three incredible and colourful masquerade parades, six massive concerts with major international stars and the biggest JβouvertΒ in the Caribbean!
St. Maarten Grand Carnival Parade & J’Ouvert
You have to have a lot of stamina if you were to bear through an entire 33 days of carnival celebrations. Most visitors will concentrate on attending the more important events. The two most popular events at this carnivalΒ is the Grand Carnival Parade and the break of dawn paradeΒ known as JβouvertΒ which begins at 4am in downtown Philipsburg.
The biggest event is the Grand Carnival ParadeΒ which always takes place on April 30thΒ where thousands of spectators come out to see the incredible display of colourful costumes, floats,Β steelpan bands, dancers singers, musicians, local cuisine and drinks. TheΒ paradeΒ winds its way from the Carnival VillageΒ through the downtown area.
Days after the parade, the carnival will close with the burning of King MouMou, a straw stuffed effigy who presides over carnival for its duration. This marks the end ofΒ carnivalΒ and the island of St. MaartenΒ then returns to its normal tranquil self until the next years carnival!
St. Maarten Carnival Tips
Itβs good to note that carnival activities and events run on βCaribbean timeβΒ so things may start late and run overtime, and no one seems to mind much, so just take note and learn to go with the flow. Visitors donβt need to where a costume, all you need is to turn up and be ready to have a good time!
The Grand ParadeΒ runs for around 3 hours and the sun can be quite strong so wear adequate sun protection. Many hotels actually supply large shade tents along key sections of the paradeΒ routes for their guests, so ask if your hotel does that.
How to get to and around St. Maarten?
There are two airports in St. MaartenΒ the main one is St. Maarten’sΒ Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and the smaller one is L’EspΓ©rance Airport, is located on the French side ofΒ St. Martin.Β To get a quote for a flightΒ click here.
There is transport around the island but and shuttle services that will take you around. You can also rent a car which makes it easier. Get a quote for a rental car here.Β To rent a bike or a scooter get a quote here.
Book your Hotel and Flight for the St. Maarten Carnival
Booking.comWhere to stay in St. Maarten for Carnival?
St. Maarten’s CarnivalΒ is actually a great one to attend because its celebrations occur at the end of April which is right after the hotel rates in the region drop from around 30-50% from the winter season highs.
Not only are the hotels much cheaper during St. Maartenβs carnival, the weather is still picture postcard clear because its well before the rainy season starts. You have plenty of accommodation options from luxury resorts and hotels, guest houses, rentals, there is something to fit every budget.
Check out some great accomodation deals here.
For more information about tours, things to do, sightseeing tours, day trips and more click here.
Before you go!
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