Embrace the festive season
For foodies particularly, it’s the most wonderful time of the year — and not just because of Christmas feasts. Delight in mouth-watering cuisine from top chefs at St Maarten Flavours of the Month (1–30 November) and the Turks & Caicos’ Caribbean Food & Wine Festival (5–9 November).
And of course, the ever-popular, award-winning Barbados Food & Rum Festival (6–9 November) delivers exceptional, irresistible gastronomic experiences, rum distillery tours, fetes, and cooking demonstrations celebrating Barbados’ outstanding culinary scene.
Further north, the Jamaica Treasure Beach Food Rum & Reggae Festival (7–9 November), Jamaica Food & Drink Festival (13–16 November), and Festival de la Gastronomie (11–22 November) in St Martin offer even more world-class culinary experiences.
From shore to shore, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) invites exploration with countless things to see, taste, discover. Take the BVI Fungi Festival (15–17 November). For instance, in the archipelago, fungi (pronounced foon-gee) doesn’t refer to mushrooms but to their traditional folk music! And before you shake a leg at the festival, enjoy the BVI Film Festival (30 October–2 November) and BVI Literary Arts Festival (6–9 November), then indulge at another foodie favourite: BVI Anegada Lobster Festival (28–30 November).
Avast ye! Cayman Pirates Week (8–15 November) begins on Grand Cayman with a thrilling “pirates’ invasion”, cultural performances, street parades, fireworks, and more euphoric activities. Then the friendly buccaneers set sail to Cayman Brac (21 November) and Little Cayman (22 November) for further swashbuckling festivities.
The sporting among us have a dizzying number of events on land and on the water to look forward to, starting with the Bahamas Conchman Triathlon (1 November), Barbados Open Water Festival (5–9 November), and Nevis Triathlon (22 November).
In Curaçao, mountain bike through scenic vistas along the hilly Kärcher Coral Estate Classic (2 November) course, and at the Kärcher Duo Xtreme (9 November) — or test your endurance at GFNY Bahamas: Ride Through Paradise (9 November) in Nassau with choices of a 61-mile or 32-mile route.
If you prefer to feel the earth beneath your feet, hit the New York City Marathon (2 November), KLM Curaçao Marathon (29–30 November), Run Barbados Marathon Weekend (5–7 December), The Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon (7 December), St Maarten Marathon (7 December), and Reggae Marathon in Jamaica (7 December).
Meanwhile, local and foreign teams take to the water for bragging rights, top cash prizes, and trophies at Antigua’s Best in the West Fishing Tournament (8 November) and Old Bahama Bay Wahoo Tournament (20–23 November) on Grand Bahama. Yachting enthusiasts can also learn about the best yachts, crews, and onboard experiences at the BVI Charter Yacht Show (11–14 November) and Antigua Charter Yacht Show (4–9 December).
And in Jamaica, the fourth annual Mouttet Mile Invitational (6 December) at Caymanas Park promises an electrifying race day with horses competing at “the richest race in the English-speaking Caribbean”— this year, with a 70s theme.
Up in Puerto Rico, the National Indigenous Festival of Jayuya (17–19 November) honours the Taínos (Puerto Rico’s Indigenous people) through educational activities for the entire family. A recreated traditional Taíno village showing how they lived and worked intrigues visitors alongside traditional food, an Indigenous parade, and an Indigenous costume contest. Concurrently, a showcase of Garifuna history and culture unfolds on Garifuna Settlement Day (19 November) in Belize.
Under the theme “Culture in Colour”, immerse yourself in Antigua & Barbuda Art Week (26 November–2 December) as artists tell their stories through dance, paintbrush strokes on canvas, spoken word performances, workshops, art tours, and talks. And while on island, don’t miss the Gemonites Moods of Pan (28–30 November) for irresistible music.
Is there ice skating in the Caribbean? The magic of Christmas comes to life at The Virgin Islands Search & Rescue or VISAR’s Winter Wonderland in Tortola, BVI (28 November–31 December) with an ice-skating fundraiser in support of this volunteer-based organisation’s invaluable work of saving lives at sea.
As December rolls around, twinkling lights and festive music tell us Christmas is in the air. Music lovers in Trinidad & Tobago won’t want to miss Christmas with the Marionettes (5–7 December) at Queen’s Hall and Parang on the Hills in Paramin (usually mid-December) — or hop up the islands for the Carriacou Parang Festival (12–15 December).
St Lucia’s Festival of Lights & Renewal on National Day (13 December) signals the start of Christmas and epitomises the victory of light over darkness. On the eve of the holiday, the capital — Castries — lights up with a Parade of Lanterns and competition in honour of St Lucy, the patron saint of light.
In Guadeloupe, chanté nwel events see people singing Creole carols remixed to gwoka and zouk rhythms. Check out Kakadò Christmas (from mid-December), a special tradition in some towns like Vieux-Habitants with torchlit processions — blending spirituality with music, dance, and cuisine.
The unique Nine Mornings Festival (16–25 December) in St Vincent & the Grenadines, meanwhile, features early-morning fetes, a steelpan jump-up, games, sea baths, concerts and street parades, with Nine Nights of Light (tentatively 23–31 December) only adding to the festivity.
Cuba’s San Salvador and El Carmen neighbourhoods — approximately 18 communities — toil for almost a year to compete against each other on judging night. The result? Las Parrandas de Remedios (16–26 December), where intricate and explosive fireworks, floats, costumes, and rumba dances are hallmarks of this dynamic celebration.
In nearby Puerto Rico, the town of Hatillo celebrates the Spanish equivalent of April Fools’ Day at Festival de las Máscaras (28 December) with pranks, a parade, and games rooted in the biblical retelling of King Herod’s savage quest to eliminate the baby Jesus. Adults wearing costumes, masks, and capes run and dance through the streets to find youngsters, while onlookers are playfully sprayed with liquids — and possibly shaving cream!
From the pageantry of street parades to competitive soca competitions, the final carnivals of the year double as the first carnivals of the new year: St Kitts Sugar Mas (23 December–3 January), Montserrat Carnival (20 December–1 January), and Bahamas Junkanoo (26 December & 1 January).
And finally, day number 365 has arrived. From quiet reflections to lively pursuits like the Owru Yari Festival (31 December) in Paramaribo, Suriname, and the famous Foxy’s Old Years Night Party (31 December) on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI, Caribbean people bid goodbye to the old year, and welcome the new with hope and celebration.