olours


Saint Lucia is beloved for its peaceful vibes, but come carnival time it erupts into an all-island party of epic proportions, discovers Alice Barnes-Brown


DESTINATIONS SAINT LUCIA | CARIBBEAN


i travelweekly.co.uk


f the synchronised stomping from spangled revellers didn’t make the


tarmac quake, the bass from the speakers certainly does. A gravelly voice comes on the mic, repeating the mantra that rejuvenates any wilting Saint Lucia carnival-goers: “Jump in the road! Jump in the road!” It’s long been my dream to take part in a Caribbean carnival, so it’s impossible not to move my feet and get swept up in the spirit. Many islands, including


Trinidad, Puerto Rico and Dominica, hold their carnivals just before Lent, reflecting the celebration’s Christian roots. However, in 1999, Saint Lucia moved its festivities to July to avoid competing with better- known carnivals and making the event more appealing to international tourists.


And judging by the hype that I witnessed on my flight –


fellow passengers were playing soca music in the aisles as we waited to disembark – the strategy has worked.


PARTY PLANNING Saint Lucia’s first official carnival was in 1947, when a few islanders threw together homemade costumes and swept through the streets of capital Castries. It’s got bigger and better since then, with 18,000 visitors arriving in Saint Lucia over the carnival period in July 2024. The carnival is a fantastic selling point for visitors who are looking to come to Saint Lucia during the low season. Some clients will be content to simply watch and enjoy the atmosphere – I saw guests of Sandals Halcyon Beach come out to admire the costumes and clap as we marched past – but others may want to be part of the action. This year’s carnival


² 20 MARCH 2025 35


PICTURE: CK Photography


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