PHILIPSBURG:--- This year St. Maarten will become one of the first islands in the region to celebrate Carnival post-COVID-19. Visitors worldwide are already starting to arrive and will "Experience Life", as the theme of this year's Carnival celebrations suggests. St. Maarten's Carnival is the biggest and most popular event in the Northeastern Caribbean and has become one of the Caribbean's most popular party stops.
The much-anticipated return of the Carnival celebration in St. Maarten has received a warm welcome from the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation & Telecommunication (TEATT), the honorable Roger Lawrence who says the event will significantly boost the economic activity of the island. He says, "this year's event will attract thousands of participants worldwide, who will come to enjoy the best entertainment experience our destination has to offer.”
"Carnival is a celebration of our Caribbean culture blended with great music, high energy, and a mixture of exciting foods and drinks from over 91 different cultures," stated Minister Lawrence. “This year revelers visiting the Island for the first time and those who have longed to return will come together from April 16 to May 3 and witness "Our core Sint Maarten cultural expression."
Minister Lawrence stated, "We are gearing up to put our talented local creatives on the world stage and show our visitors and friends a great time after being unable to host Carnival for two years. If you have been to St. Maarten for Carnival, you are familiar with the fascinating display of costumes, colors, dance, and music that we have perfected over fifty-one years."
The Government of St. Maarten and the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) have planned and put a series of checks and safety measures geared toward keeping everyone safe while having fun during Carnival and beyond. Carnival in St. Maarten generally consists of a mixture of music from around the world and locally, including calypso, soca, reggae, zouk, and Latin music with local and international artists performing at the Carnival Village.
Inside the “Festival Village", the center of the Carnival events, you will find over fifty vending stations flanking a large concert-style stage on the left and right, forming a large circle with an open viewing area in the middle. Revelers are already looking for their favorite costume for the coveted Grand Parade celebration.
For those visiting the Island and attending Carnival for the first time, Lawrence encourages free-spirited fun and relaxation while on the Island.
The travel requirements, in general, have been updated, and visitors are encouraged to fill in their Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) application when coming to St. Maarten. Information about the updated requirements can be found on the official website https://stmaartenehas.com/travel-requirements.
