Despite probably being best known for its jazz festival and the carnival, St Lucia has an exciting annual calendar that keeps visitors and returning residents coming back for more.

The events are diverse in nature, ensuring that there is something to meet everyone’s taste, including a Nobel Laureate week, cricket events, music awards, golf tournaments, fishing tournaments, Creole Heritage Month, a netball tournament and the Heineken Kalalu Music Festival.

Some of the lesser known, but equally enjoyable and creative are:

Oct 26th - Jounen Kweyol Entenasyonnal
This festival celebrates the Creole language spoken throughout the island, through a mix of Kweyol (Creole) food, music, games and folklore which showcases the island’s unique French-influenced flavor.
Contact: Folk Research Centre on +1 758 452 2279

December - Heineken Kalalu Music Festival
Considered the Caribbean’s most diverse musical event, featuring authentic artists from around the world, Kalalu promises cultural and culinary diversity in a four day festival which links the Creole, Anglo-Franco to Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
www.kalalufestival.com

Jan 20th – 28th- Nobel Laureate Week
This is a week set aside every year to honour and celebrate St Lucia’s two Nobel Laureates: Sir Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics 1979, and the Honourable Derek Walcott - Nobel Prize Literature 1992.
Contact: Cultural Development Foundation on +1 758 452 1859/ 452 5646 / 453 2459 or email cdf@candw.lc.

Anse-la-Raye Seafood Friday
The village of Anse-la-Raye, located on the west coast just south of Castries, offers a Friday party on Seafood Friday. Whether it’s squid, fish, octopus, shrimp or lobster, you can be sure to get it while grooving to a wide variety of Caribbean music, every Friday.

Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party
The longest running street party in St Lucia, the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. With DJs and local artists performing, enjoyment is certainly a must. There are a variety of barbeque grills serving local cuisine including chicken, pork and seafood.

Dennery Fish Saturday
On the east coast of the island, another village with a fishing heritage greets patrons with a tantalising aroma of seafood, to the enjoyable musical accompaniment of soca, dancehall reggae and R&B.