What's on in Castries (Saint Lucia), Saint Lucia through the year

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in January.

Busy — Independence Day

• Festival

  Independence Day

  22 FebNational holidayCrowded

  Flag raising and school parades on 22 February, with a week of concerts and church services around it. Government offices shut and the island is in blue, gold, white and black. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Busy — Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

• Season

  Sargassum on the Atlantic side

  1 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallySargassum season

  The windward coast around Vieux Fort and Micoud takes the weed and the smell that comes with it. The Caribbean side, from Castries down to Soufriere, is largely spared.

• Festival

  Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

  30 Apr – 10 MayMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  The main stage sits on the causeway at Pigeon Island, with free fringe shows around Castries and Soufriere for a week and a half. Rodney Bay is where to be based, and the north-coast rooms go first. Source ↗

Busy — Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival (30 Apr – 10 May)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Hazard

  Hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  Far enough south to be missed most years, but Tomas arrived at the end of October 2010 and took the roads and the water supply with it. August to early October is the stretch that matters. Source ↗

• Festival

  Saint Lucia Carnival

  1–22 JulCrowdedBook early

  Saint Lucia moved its carnival off Lent and into July. J'ouvert starts before dawn in paint and oil, then two days of Parade of the Bands close Castries in the third week of the month. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Saint Lucia Carnival, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Saint Lucia Carnival (1–22 Jul)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Jounen Kweyol

• Festival

  Jounen Kweyol

  25 OctMajor festivalCrowded

  Creole Heritage Month runs all October and lands on Creole Day, the last Sunday, when four host communities cook all day and the radio switches to Kweyol. Getting to the host villages takes planning. Source ↗

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — ARC finish at Rodney Bay

• Festival

  ARC finish at Rodney Bay

  25 Nov – 22 DecMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Two hundred-odd yachts finish the Atlantic crossing at Rodney Bay through the first three weeks of December, each met on the dock with rum at whatever hour it lands. The marina runs on crew time. Source ↗

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — ARC finish at Rodney Bay, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: ARC finish at Rodney Bay (25 Nov – 22 Dec)