Festivals in Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda never ceases to amaze tours, with its fun and enjoyable activities going all year round. No matter the time of the year there’s always a variety of gathering for all people with different interests. There’s always an exciting lineup of festivals, annual sporting events, and cultural celebrations all happening in the amazing Antigua and Barbuda region. The Antigua hosts the Antigua Carnival, a ten-day summer festival that is celebrated through the streets of St. John’s, and Antigua Sailing Week, from July to August. Half-marathons, cricket, mango, kite festivals, triathlons, sportfishing festivals are other festivals that one can take part in.

Jolly Harbour Yacht Club Valentine’s Regatta

In the second week of February, between 11 Feb to 13 Feb, a highly competitive Regatta festival occurs, with a range of party nights with sailors, visitors, and locals of Jolly Harbour for an unparalleled weekend. Many sailors participate in the festival with their boats. The Olympic-designs course is fine-tuned every year for more challenging races. Sometimes, the spirited weather condition brings an additional edge to the racing. All skippers and crew members come with great preparation and have polished their skills and wits before starting the race. Participants treat themselves with canapes that are a tasty meal to grab after the skipper’s briefing. Plus, drinks are available at Happy Hours Prices all night, with countless bonhomie offerings.

Antigua International Kite Festival

The Kite flying is loved all over the Caribbean during the Easter weekend, and Antigua spares no expense in participating in it. The Antigua International Kite Festival is one of the most popular festivals on the islands of the Caribbean. This festival takes place on 18th April and features activities for kids and competitions for adults during the day. No matter what age group is, all will be seen enjoying kite flying, and sunny Antiguan skies are teamed with colorful kites. Whether you chose to be an active participant in Kite flying or just want to be a spectator, this amazing activity takes your Antigua exploration journey to a whole next level. This family activity is organized by Tropikiters Inc, with a focus on offering a one-of-a-kind “Kiting Vacation” and celebrating the love of Kiting to the Caribbean.

Antigua Carnival

Traditionally the date of carnival celebrations in Antigua and Barbuda falls during Christmas. In 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II visited the city, the carnival took place in June as a part of the coronation celebrations. People took it with immense support that there was an uproar to repeat it in summer. After pondering over at summer carnivals elsewhere in the Caribbean, the decision was made for carnival festivals to celebrate the Emancipation Day on the first Monday in August. Finally, Antigua celebrated its first-ever carnival in August 1957, and over many years it has become an immensely popular festival as it is today. The party nights start on the Thursday just before Emancipation Day and go on until the following Tuesday. A colorful parade in the early morning on Monday is the J’ouvert ( derived from the French creole word “Jour Ouvert” defining ‘daybreak’), a street performance that imitates the celebration that occurred on August 1st, 183, when slavery was expunged. On the next that carnival is brought to an end with ‘last lap’ when the performance takes place ending with a large celebration that goes on till midnight.