Partake in our Local Events

With tropical weather all year round, every day is a good day to visit beautiful St.Maarten. Join us for our cultural festivals unique to St.Maarten, compete with the best in our annual sporting competitions, or dance till you drop at one of the island’s epic beach parties. Whether you are planning a trip soon or currently visiting, here is a guide to the island’s most popular events.

February: St. Martin Carnival

On St. Maarten, you can experience not one, but TWO Caribbean Carnivals. In February, join our French neighbors to the North as they celebrate their annual Carnival festival. These celebrations showcase the diversity and vibrancy of Caribbean culture and taste.

March: St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Since the 1980s, St. Maarten has hosted the annual Heineken Regatta boat race. This event draws over 200+ vessels from across the globe. This 3-day event starts off each day with a variety of boat races and toasts the sunset with grand beach concerts all night. Learn about event details, how to get tickets, and more at heinekenregatta.com.

March: SXM Music Festival

Looking for the most epic beach parties in the Caribbean? Check out the SXM Music Festival. Five days and five nights of pure party bliss at stunning venues across the island, this is an event you do not want to miss. Tickets to this event sell quickly, so be sure to get yours for the next festival.

April/May: St. Maarten Carnival

St.Maarten Carnival is the event of the year! From April to May, the Dutch side erupts to the beat of calypso, soca, reggae, and dancehall. Local troops fill the streets in their colorful costumes in local parades. Fete with the locals all month long at various cultural events and bacchanals at the Carnival Village on Pond Island. The Village has the best local food you will ever have, guaranteed. Ask the locals for their favorite booth number and make sure to get a photo with the Carnival Icon, Pork Chop.

June: SMART 

The St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) is an annual binational tourism trade event held each June. The event brings together tourism professionals, travel buyers, tour operators, hoteliers, destination representatives, and industry partners from across the Caribbean and international markets for one-on-one meetings, networking, industry discussions, and destination experiences. SMART provides a platform to strengthen tourism partnerships, showcase the diverse offerings of St. Maarten/St. Martin, and create new business opportunities across the region. To register or learn more about the tradeshow visit www.shta.com/SMART .

November: St. Maarten’s Day

St. Maarten was discovered by Christopher Columbus on November 11th, 1493. On this day, the island hosts multiple cultural events throughout the Dutch and French sides to celebrate the island’s history. Many dine on local dishes like johnnycake, chicken leg, and salt fish, listen to folk steel pan music and share in the theatrics of young school kids dancing the ponum in local dress.

All year long: St. Maarten Flavors

St. Maarten Flavors is a year-round culinary program showcasing the island’s rich and diverse food culture. The program brings together restaurants, chefs, local culinary talent, and food experiences from across St. Maarten, giving both visitors and residents the opportunity to discover and enjoy the island’s culinary offerings throughout the year.

The program features participating restaurants, special dishes and menus, culinary events, tastings, workshops, and other food-focused experiences. Each year, June serves as St. Maarten’s Culinary Month, with a special focus on unique “Off the Menu” experiences and culinary events. Through St. Maarten Flavors, the island’s culinary scene is continuously highlighted and promoted as an important part of the St. Maarten experience and its reputation as the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. To learn more or view participating restaurants visit www.stmaartenflavors.com . 

The party never ends on St.Maarten. For more details on upcoming events, new venues, and cultural exhibitions, check out our events calendar.