Travel Dominica

Dominica entertainment and events in Dominica can fill any yearly calendar. These Dominica festivities and events begin at the years opening with Dominica events around News year’s celebrations, then into Dominica carnival, and all the way to Dominica independence in November. Coincidentally Dominica people are a very fun loving people and incorporate this love for life in their socializing. This practices stem from colonial times, when the Africans would make a celebration out of any given opportunity. In fact one of the most popular events in Dominica, carnival, comes from way back in the history of the country. Dominica’s culture is a mixture of African, European (mainly French and English) and Carib customs. Dominica Festivals and other Dominica events or celebrations held in Dominica each year includes; Carnival, DOMFESTA, World Creole Music Festival, and Independence Celebrations.

These are the annual Dominica events,; however, there are much more regular entertainment in Dominica, from local concerts to visiting international artists. The more accepted practice for day to day Dominica entertainment would start with local bars and local “limes”. These forms of entertainment in Dominica are available daily, and found in every community servicing the social needs of the Dominica people.

Carnival is the first major Dominica event in Dominica. Like all the other Dominica festivals, carnival is very colorful and celebrates the music, talent, culture and people of this country. Dominica Carnival is also a major Dominica attraction drawing hundred of tourists to the island each year. Carnival is held in February and in a leap year very early in March. Parades and parties and pageants fill a month long calendar of Dominica events the highlight of carnival, and regrettably the end to the Dominica Carnival, itself is a two day street party called Jump Up. For two days people take to the street to dance and celebrate.

The next well publicized and popular annual Dominica event is the Dominica festival of creative arts, DOMFESTA. This takes place between April and June each year. This Dominica event is another of Dominica top forms of entertainment in Dominica, and the DOMFESTA event showcases the length and breadth of creative arts in Dominica. The features of this Dominica event include concerts, dramas and plays, musical theatricals, song contests, poetry exhibitions. This event incorporates drama, dance, music art, creative arts, crafts.

Following closely is another major Dominica attractions, Dominica DiveFest, and is a festival forms part of the calendar of events and Dominica entertainment. This Dominica attraction and Dominica festival, is the longest Caribbean Dive Festival of its kind, and continues to grow each year. It is well known around the world and is the oldest dive festival in the Caribbean. Dominica is top rated for diving therefore scores of visitors come to the island for this Dominica attractions and major Dominica entertainment, since the two weeks of activities around dive fest includes many parties, and other exciting and lively forms of Dominica entertainment

Summer time in Dominica is nothing but fun and excitement. Activities take part around the island which brings families and friends together. In August Dominica like many other Caribbean countries celebrate Emancipation Day. This is a national holiday and activities such as beach parties and concerts are organized around the island to celebrate this day. This is a day when many people look forward to going to the beach to have fun and enjoy local foods and drinks. The Division of Culture organizes activities such as Drumming festivals, plays, and seminars to commemorate this day.

Summer survaiavl festivities held by local beach bars and bech clubs, provide wweekend summer entertainment in Dominica. By night the local bars and clubs are crammed with Dominica who are entertained by local and or visiting artists and acts. There is never a shaortage of local Domincia entertainment.

From September to November the Independence celebrations begin. Independence Day is November 3rd but the celebration begins early in September with numerous cultural competitions around the island. Creole weeks begin in the last week of October with Heritage Day and ends with Creole day. Heritage Day is the celebration of the cultures and tradition of a different community each year. Persons in the chosen community are awarded for their contribution to the country’s culture. Creole Day is perhaps the most colorful celebration held on the island. The population dresses up in traditional wear which is a Jupe or Wob Dwiyet for women and girls. This is a colorful dress or skirt worn over a white petticoat with a white shirt. Lots of jewelry and make up is worn to complete the outfit. Men wear black pants with white shirts and a red sash around their waists. Straw hats are worn but the traditional head piece for the women is a Tete Case or the head can be tied in different styles. This form of dress was inherited from French settlers and worn by free creoles for market day, on Sundays and for festivals. On this day only a local dialect called Kweyol is spoken and restaurants and homes all prepare traditional foods such as green bananas with saltfish, crab backs, calalloo, mountain chicken, roast breadfruit, etc. Creole in the back a daytime event takes place during Creole Week and places emphasis on local talent and food.

One of the highlights of the Independence celebration and a very big festival in Dominica is the World Creole Music Festival. This began in 1997 and has grown into a very big Dominica attraction. The festival runs over a course of three (3) nights and showcases Creole music from Dominica and around the world. Artists and visitors come from countries such as Europe, Africa, Canada and the United States. The festival is followed by a National Youth Rally on November 2nd and a National Day parade on November 3rd. A cultural concert is held on the 4th of November and the winners of the various district cultural shows grace the stage. The final activity of the independence celebrations is a National Day of Community Service in which the population engages in voluntary projects in their various communities.

The villages in Dominica celebrate village feasts all year round. These feasts are held to celebrate the traditions of that particular village. Most feasts are based on the Patron Saint of the community. Dominica is predominantly a Catholic country and each parish was named after a saint. These feast and other religious celebrations are major Dominica attractions and help boost the tourism sector in Dominica.

Dominicans are fun loving people and use every opportunity to celebrate their culture. Visitors to Dominica will not be bored as there is always something to engage themselves in. Each festival in Dominica is unique and gives visitors a chance to interact with the locals and learn more of their culture and history.