MARTINIQUE: Local Culture / Calendar of Events

Martinique’s local culture is diverse and well developed, so there is much to experience and celebrate on the island. The beautiful new L’Atrium performing arts center in Fort-de-France offers theater, dance and musical performances on a grand scale. Local artists exhibit in galleries throughout the island and some open their ateliers (workshops) to visitors.

More than a dozen museums, each with a distinct personality, offer visitors a wonderful opportunity to explore Martinique's history and heritage. The museums are small, designed for easy visiting, and are scattered throughout the island. Some are devoted to famous islanders such as the Empress Joséphine (l'impératrice), others to historical events like the eruption of Mont Pelée volcano and still others to prehistoric Martinique, the abolition of slavery, the production of rum, etc.

2008 MARTINIQUE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January: Patron Saint's Day in Marin, Diamant and Trois-Ilets

Jan. 1: New Year's Day. Public holiday. Family reunions and "at home" festivities

Jan. 6: La Fête des Rois. Galette des rois (Epiphany cake) celebration

Jan. 9: Grand Prix del Atlantico 2008 departs from Gibraltar-Lanzarote. Arrival in Le Marin early February

Jan. 13: Foyal parade in Fort-de-France. Pre carnival event

Jan. 17 - 20: Patron Saint celebration in Le Diamant

Jan. 19: Noctamval in Fort-de-France. Evening parade

Jan. 19: Swaré Bélé. Drum concert in Sainte-Marie

Jan 20: Tchimbé Raid Défi des Mornes. Fonds Saint Denis

Jan. 20: Carnaval Queen, Mini-Queen and Queen Mother are elected in each town

Jan. 20: Matinik Carribean Kannaval in St. Joseph

Jan. 20: Course de Gommiers. Boat race in Le Diamant

Jan. 26 - Feb. 5: La Route du Carnaval. Yacht race from Martinique (Le Marin) to Trinidad

Jan. 26: Flanm' Parade in Diamant. Evening parade

Jan. 27: Bal Titane in Fort-de-France. Music and dances

February: Patron Saint's Day in Trois-Ilets

Jan. 29 - Feb. 1: Tradival in Fort-de-France. Town decorated for carnival

February: Grand Prix del Atlantico 2008. Arrival in Le Marin early February

Feb. 1 - 5: Nautical Week, in Schoelcher. Boat races and events themed to the sea

Feb. 2 - 4: Carnaval Regatta

Feb. 3 - 6: Carnaval envelopes the island for four days. All business comes to a halt. Streets spill over with parties and parades. Carnival Queen is elected.

Feb. 2: Queens parade in Fort-de-France. Evening parade in Le Robert

Feb. 3: Dimanche Gras, (Fat Sunday). Bands in the streets; singing, dancing

Feb. 5: Mardi Gras, (Shrove Tuesday). Costumed as "red devils," revelers parade around La Savane in Fort-de-France. Marching bands in afternoon; big dances at night

Feb. 6: Ash Wednesday. Unlike elsewhere, Carnaval runs through 1st day of Lent. Black and white costumes form Vaval's (King Carnival's) final procession. Funeral pyre built, rum flows, passionate dancing

Feb. 11: Grand Prix de la Banane. Bike race at Le François.

Feb. 14: Jazzy Soul Saint-Valentin.

Feb. 14 - 23: Festival International de Musique Classique. Atrium theater in Fort-de-France

Feb. 16: Challenge Fun Kid. Funboard in Le Vauclin

Feb. 17: Tchimbé Raid Défi des Mornes. Grand-Rivière

Feb. 28: Mi-Carême, or Mid-Lent. Lenten fasting is suspended. Gala balls in most towns

Feb. 28: Vaval d'Or 2008. Best carnaval group reward.

March: Foire Agricole de Rivière-Pilote. Agricultural exhibit and fair

Mar. 2: Tchimbé Raid Défi des Mornes in Schoelcher

Mar. 5 - 9: Foire Expo de Dillon traditional exhibit and fair, in Fort-de-France

Mar. 15: Challenge Fun Kid. Funboard in Le Vauclin

Mar. 20: World Water Day celebration

Mar. 20 - 30: Bélé Mundo: music festival of the Bélé world

Mar. 21: Good Friday. Public Holiday, a day of religious processions

Mar. 22: Earth Day

Mar. 22: Randonuit, night hike, in Trois Ilets

Mar. 23: Pâques (Easter) Sunday. Ecological 20 km Nature Walk, Le Prêcheur to Grand-Rivière

Mar. 24: Easter Monday. Public holiday. Family beach picnics. Classic soccer game

Mar. 24: La Patte d'Or. Crab festival in Trois-Ilets

Mar. 28 - 30: Caribbean Boat Show in Fort-de-France

April: Les Voies de la Tradition, a ten day fair with concerts, exhibits, dance, food tasting in Fort-de-France

April: Convergence "Descente des Mornes", Festival in Ajoupa-Bouillon

April: "Balana" Salon Nautique Inter-Caribéen de la Martinique. Boat exhibit and fair

Apr. 6: Tchimbé Raid Défi des Mornes in Morne Rouge

Apr. 12: Challenge Fun Kid. Funboard in Le Vauclin

Apr. 12 - 13: Banana Cup. Regatta in Fort-de-France

Apr. 22: Earth Day

April 27 - May 4: Semaine Gastronomique de Sainte Marie. International cooking contest. Dining and dancing

May: Patrons Saint's Day in Saint-Esprit and Saint-Joseph

May: Lamentin Jazz Project

May: Mai de Dillon, cultural events and shows

May: Fête du Gommier, traditional fishing boat festival, in Sainte-Luce. Windsurfing Tour. Sainte Luce, Diamant, Trois Ilets

May 1: Ascension Thursday, public holiday

May 1: Labor Day. Public holiday. Parades, yawl races, skeet shoots throughout island

May 1 - 3: Combat des Coques. Liveaboard, Catamaran, Tempest, Soling boat regattas, Grande Anse/Sainte Anne

May 3: Tchimbé Raid Matnik 2008. Saint-Pierre / Schoelcher 70 kms run

May 5: World Environment Day

May 8: Victory 1945 celebrated

May 8: Commemoration of Mont Pelée volcano eruption in 1902 in Saint-Pierre

May 11: Pentecost Sunday

May 17 - 18: Coupe de Martiniquee. Regatta in Schoelcher

May 22: Slavery Abolition Day. Public holiday. Celebrates the 153nd anniversary of the abolition of slavery. In Fort-de France and throughout island

May 25: Mother's Day

June: Patrons Saint's Day in Trinité, Basse-Pointe, Marigot, Saint-Pierre, Vauclin, Rivière-Salée

June: Festival de Haute-Taille et des Quadrilles du Monde, dance festival in François

June: Pineapple Festival, Ajoupa-Bouillon

June: Sugar Cane Crop Over Festival, Sainte-Marie

June 8: Tchimbé Raid Défi des Mornes. Carbet

June 15: Father's Day

June 14 - July 6: La Route des Tepuys. Martinique to Venezuela yacht race departing from Le Marin

June 21: Summer solstice

June 21: Challenge Fun Kid. Funboard in Le Vauclin

July: Patrons Saint's Day in Gros-Morne, Anses d'Arlet, Carbet, Shoelcher, Macouba and Sainte-Anne

July: Festival Culturel de la Ville de Fort-de-France. Music concerts, art exhibitions, and other cultural events

July: Trempage Show, traditional breakfast competition, in Trinité

July 5-13: Tour de la Martinique, weeklong bicycle race. International teams in mini-version of famed "Tour de France"

July 14: Bastille Day, Public holiday. Parades and celebrations

July: Bananniversaire at Musée de la Banane in Sainte-Marie

July 19-30: Festival Biguine Jazz in Sainte-Marie

August: Patrons Saint's Day in Bellefontaine, Lamentin, Case-Pilote, Sainte-Marie, Lorrain, Morne-Rouge and Robert

August: Festival du Marin. Folk, religious and country music concerts, films, art exhibitions, and other cultural events

August: Carrefour Martiniquais du Tambour, drum concerts, conferences and exhibitions

Aug. 3 - 10: Tour des Yoles Rondes. Unique to Martinique, this breathtakingly beautiful race of yoles rondes (yawls with rounded keels) departs Fort-de-France & sails around island in seven stopovers. Bring cameras, zoom lens & binoculars.

Aug. 15: Assumption Day. Public holiday

Aug. 15: Challenge Bébé Yole de la Baie des Mulets. Baby Yole boat races

September: Patron Saint's Day in Ducos

Sept. 20 - 21: Journées du Patrimoine. Martinique celebrates traditions and heritage, creole costumes, music, dance, arts and crafts

October: Patrons Saint's Day in François and Fonds-Saint-Denis

Oct. 28: Journée Internationale du Créole, celebration of Creole

November: Patrons Saint's Day in Morne-vert and Grand-Rivière

November: Tournoi International de Pêche Sportive du Marin. Martinique Billfish Association. International Fishing Tournament. Competition

November: A Man, A Woman, a Boat Race

Nov. 1: Toussaint (All Saints Day). Public holiday. Every cemetery illuminated with candles in memorable evening ceremony

Nov. 2: All Souls Day. Public holiday

Nov. 11: Armistice Day (Veterans Day USA) Public holiday

Nov. 22: St. Cecilia's Day. Music celebration in cities

Nov. 30: Half-Marathon. 21.1 km race around Fort-de-France run by thousands of competitors

December: Patrons Saint's Day in Rivière-Pilote, Sainte-Luce and Ajoupa-Bouillon

December: Rencontre Internationale de Gospel. International Gospel festival

December: Festival International de Jazz. Jazz festival

December: Capitale en Fête, Fort-de-France celebrates Christmas, entertainment, music, dance, exhibits

Dec. 14-17: Grand Raid Manikou Grand-Rivière/Sainte-Anne. 127 Kms hike

Dec. 21: Winter solstice

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve. Midnight Mass, followed by le réveillon, a feast of warm patés, boudin créole, pork stew, fine rum drinks like orange-flavored shrubb, singing and dancing

Dec. 25: Noël (Christmas Day). All the trimmings with a tropical touch

Dec. 31: Réveillon de la Saint Sylvestre (New Year's Eve). Dining and dancing at hotels and restaurants

For related contact information, please visit Caribbean-Direct.com.

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