What's on in Kingston, Jamaica through the year

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Dry season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Reggae Month

• Festival

  Reggae Month

  1–28 FebMajor festivalCrowded

  February is Reggae Month by proclamation: a Bob Marley birthday tribute at Emancipation Park on the sixth, Hall of Fame inductions, JaRIA's seminars and a run of free concerts. Much of it costs nothing. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Carnival in Jamaica, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Carnival in Jamaica

  25 Mar – 25 Apr · usuallyCrowdedBook early

  Jamaica's carnival is a soca season rather than a Lenten one: it lands after Easter and ends with the Road March through New Kingston. Fetes and breakfast parties run most nights of the week before it. Source ↗

Still on: Dry season (1 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Carnival in Jamaica

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Carnival in Jamaica (25 Mar – 25 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

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

• Hazard

  Hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  Beryl came ashore on the south coast in July 2024 and Gilbert crossed the whole island in 1988. Kingston sits in the Blue Mountains' rain shadow, but the harbour and the Palisadoes road flood before the wind arrives. Source ↗

Busy — Emancipation and Independence, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Emancipation and Independence

  31 Jul – 6 AugNational holidayCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Emancipation Day on the first and Independence Day on the sixth bracket a week the country takes off, ending with the Grand Gala at the National Stadium. Flights home from the diaspora fill it and rooms go early. Source ↗

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

Busy — Emancipation and Independence, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Emancipation and Independence (31 Jul – 6 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: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

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

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

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

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

• Season

  Dry season

  1 Dec – 31 Mar · usually

  The driest stretch in a city that is dry to begin with, tucked behind the Blue Mountains. The trails up to Blue Mountain Peak are at their best and Kingston's outdoor season runs from here to Easter.