Grenada Holidays - Event

It's carnival time in Carriacou, the small sister island of Grenada. Free from big hotels and the adverse effects of tourism, the island celebrates its traditional Caribbean carnival with street parties and a wealth of musical styles each year.

Activities range from a children's carnival to King and Queen of Bands, a Calypso king contest and parades. Though not as big and bold as other carnivals in the Caribbean, this little island (just 13 square miles) offers up the perfect example of a traditional celebration.

Although the population is just 6000, Carriacou hosts a rich mix of Caribbean musical styles, ranging from gentle, melodic lullabies for the solo voice to the fast, drum-based Big Drum dance songs, which are commonly known. These date back to the late 1700s and celebrate the ancestors of the West-African ethnic groups or nations (such as Cromanti, Igbo, Manding, Chamba, Kongo, Arada, Temne, Moko and Banda) that were brought to the island. Each dance has its own distinctive rhythmic pattern.

When the carnival celebrations finally wane, head for the sea. Literally translated, Carriacou means "island of reefs" - it's a prime destination for scuba diving and also, of course, for resting your weary limbs and nurturing your hangover in the shade of a palm tree.