Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival
Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival
Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival 2020
There are so many exceptional events occurring throughout the
world during the year. However, on the tiny island of Carriacou, there
is one unique festival that showcases traditions, rituals, song, dance
and other spiritual aspects like none other. Held over the three (3) day
period April 26-28, the 2020 Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music
Festival is ideal for those looking for a pure and culturally untamed
experience. One of the highlights of the Carriacou Maroon is the eating
and sharing of the smoked food commonly consisting of rolled rice,
provisions, a choice of meat and more. Whereas you will normally prepare
this on a stove top and sit around a dining table, at the Carriacou
Maroon Festival, the food is prepared in large pots over a fireside,
shared by the villagers and just might be served in a calabash. Another
major highlight of the Carriacou Maroon & String Band Festival is
its various authentic cultural performances. This tiny island comes to
life with the presentations of the big drum nation dance, quadrille
dances and Shakespeare Mas. It is a bit difficult not to stay fixated on
the barefooted ladies with colorful head wraps and large skirts dancing
vigorously to the deep sounds escalating from the big drums. This year,
additional performances come in the likes of the Black Stalin from
Trinidad, the Lashing Dogs from the British Virgin Islands, the
Harmonites from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Carriacou Big Drum and
much more. Three days, three venues but one festival. As we say, once
you have experienced the Carriacou Maroon and String Band Music
Festival, your life will never be the same! For information getting to Carriacou, Carriacou map, where to stay once you get here and getting around the island email
info@travelgrenada.comCarriacou Maroon Music Festival
Meeting world class standards, the 2015 Carriacou Maroon Music Festival is the event for those persons who wish for an experience with a difference. The Festival merged the maroon celebration and string band music into one setting with one spirit as one united island. Its African origins were depicted through the drumming, singing, smoked food and other rituals practiced by the local people. It epitomizes food, music and culture by bringing people together.
Belair Village Maroon
You will experience a genuine maroon in its natural, home setting.
Experience the morning rituals of blowing the shell, wetting the ground
and the cooking of smoked foods. From 4:00 pm-6:00 pm you will eat and
share the ancestral smoked food after which there will be a flambeau
parade and dancing of smoked food in the ring, this will be followed by
drumming and singing. Remember, the 'maroon' has communal and spiritual
features all steeped in rich African traditions. To end the night,
everyone will head to the Coconut Bar in Hillsborough for the welcome
party at 11pm..Strings in the City" & "Cradle of Culture,
Belair Heritage Park
Meet on Main Street, in the town of Hillsborough for 'Strings in the
City' where various groups perform with string band instruments. Later
on that night, the festival stage will come alive at the historical and
charming Heritage Village, Belair Park; home of Carriacou's social and
cultural activities. The program consists of two parts: firstly,
presentations of big drum nation dance, quadrille dances, Shakespeare
Mas and other cultural art forms by both local and regional groups.
Secondly, there will bea concert featuring regional artistes. Photo courtesy of Lebawit Lily Girma.
Paradise Beach
An entire evening of pure, untamed and pulsating music; the setting is the magical Paradise Beach with the perfect natural backdrop of Sandy and Mabouya Islands. Just imagine it! The day's special will consists of a varied menu of tasty seafood! Performances are scheduled to begin at 4pm and will feature quadrille, big drum, steel pan, and different genres of musicGetting to Carriacou & Petite Martinique
Travelling by Air
St. Vincent Grenadines Air (SVG Air) operates daily flights between Grenada's Maurice Bishop International Airport and Carriacou's Lauriston Airport. The 20 minute flight is EC $124 one-way or EC $245 return. With 2 morning and 2 afternoon departures (except on Thursdays), it is easy for visitors and business travellers to spend at least one day exploring Carriacou.Ticket prices and schedules are subject to change so please contact SVG Air for more information -
St. Vincent Grendines (SVG) Air
Tel: 473 444-1475
Travelling by Sea
For visitors already in Grenada the Osprey Ferry operates daily round-trip service between Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The 90-minute journey on a power-catamaran travels along Grenada's scenic west coast from St. George's, passing the small islets between Grenada and Carriacou and arriving in Hillsborough, before going onto Petite Martinique.For a day trip to Carriacou passengers should get to the Queen's Jetty on the Carenage (opposite the Fire Station) by 08:30 to purchase tickets from the Osprey's ticket counter. In Carriacou tickets can be purchased from the Osprey's office on Main Street, Hillsborough. Tickets cost EC $80 one-way or EC $160 return per person.