St. Maarten Prepares Carnival in April

Every year in April St. Maarten celebrates the island’s Carnival. The annual affair, which features festivities like Jump-Up Parades, calypso competitions, beauty pageants and the annual “Jouvert” celebration is a two-week celebration that encompasses the island’s cultural traditions and allows visitors and residents alike to parade alongside costumed revelers and join in the numerous street jump-ups.

The celebration begins on April 17 with thousands of dancing revelers parading through the streets for the “Opening of the Carnival Village Jump-Up” and the opening of the “Carnival Village” gates which signifies the start of Carnival. The events continue with the annual “Children’s Parade” which is slated to take place on April 20.

This special costumed procession showcases the children of St. Maarten and represents the rich tradition of Carnival being passed from one generation to the next preserving the island’s culture.