What's on in Fort-de-France (Martinique), Martinique through the year

Busy — Careme, the dry season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Carnaval

  14–18 FebCarnivalCrowdedBook early

  Sunday parades from early January build to five days that stop the town: burlesque weddings on the Monday, red devils on Shrove Tuesday, black and white on Ash Wednesday, and Vaval burned at dusk. Source ↗

Still on: Careme, the dry season (1 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Peak crowds — Carnaval, Careme, the dry season

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Carnaval (14–18 Feb), Careme, the dry season (1 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — Careme, the dry season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Sargassum on the Atlantic coast

  1 Mar – 30 Sep · usuallySargassum season

  The windward coast from Le Robert round to Sainte-Anne takes it worst; as it rots the gas corrodes electronics indoors and closes beach restaurants for days. The Caribbean side is usually clear.

Still on: Careme, the dry season (1 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — Careme, the dry season

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)), Careme, the dry season (1 Dec – 30 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually))

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

• Hazard

  Hivernage and hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  The wet half of the year is called hivernage, and the storm risk sits inside it, concentrated between mid-August and early October. Inter-island ferries stop a day or two before a system passes. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Tour des Yoles Rondes, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Tour des Yoles Rondes

  26 Jul – 2 AugMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Eight days of sail canoes racing village to village, crews hanging off wooden poles to keep them upright. The coast road to each afternoon's finish is jammed by lunchtime and the island watches the rest on television. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)), Hivernage and hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Tour des Yoles Rondes, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)), Hivernage and hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Tour des Yoles Rondes (26 Jul – 2 Aug)

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

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Sargassum on the Atlantic coast (1 Mar – 30 Sep (usually)), Hivernage and hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Hivernage and hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Hivernage and hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Busy — Careme, the dry season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Careme, the dry season

  1 Dec – 30 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  The island calls its dry half careme. The north trails and the climb up Pelee are walkable, the rivers drop, and the cane is cut; it is also when the flights from Paris are fullest.