Saint Kitts Holiday Celebrations

With a combination of British and local Caribbean traditions, St. Kitts and Nevis has a diverse holiday calendar that reflects the unique culture of the Islands. Both global and local holidays feature a variety of celebrations, events and unique festivals which are enjoyed by travelers and locals alike.

Toward the beginning of the year, the Islands celebrate Alexander Hamilton’s birthday with a tea party hosted by the local Historical Society. Hamilton, who was born on Nevis in 1755 went on to become one of America’s most celebrated Presidents and diplomats. The month concludes with Tourism week, which features a variety of cultural celebrations.

In March, the Islands host a Garden Tour which provides an open house event for the local villas to the public, along with an Agricultural Day where visitors can learn about the Island’s rich farm life first-hand by sampling local produce and meeting with farmers. In July, the Islands hold a Fruit Festival, where you can enjoy the summer fruit harvest, including a variety of tropical fruit.

The largest annual festival is held at the end of July: Culturama celebrates Emancipation with a variety of cultural activities include a Parade, Live Music and Pageants over a two week period. After the Festival, the Islands hold an International Food Fair at St. George’s which celebrates the Caribbean culinary tradition. On September 16, the Islands celebrate their 1983 Independence and further celebrate Nevis Heritage with a Culinary Expo at the end of October. Year end holidays, including Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years round out a complete holiday cycle.

Vacations in the The Capital of Basseterre

As the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis, Basseterre is a historic city with strong French influences. The city formally came into existence in 1627 as a French colony, and the city served as a hub for French governance throughout the West Indies. Over the centuries, the city has endured colonial conflict and natural disasters, yet retains a large number of original buildings from its colonial era. The historic nature of the city, along with its natural wonders, makes it an ideal vacation destination.

Located on the Basseterre Bay on St. Kitts, the city features lush mountains, such as the Olivee Mountains, as well as impressive vistas and natural life. The city’s name means “low lands” in French, and reflects the valley in which much of the city’s buildings are situated. Visitors to the city will find the city retains its historic layout, with major, narrow streets connecting the town centers of Circus and Independence Squares. At the center of the city are historic cathedrals and government buildings. Although limited in size, Basseterre has hosted Cricket Cup events, as well as several major ports and medical schools ranging from Windsor University to the Ross School of Veterinary Medicine.

Transportation in Basseterre

International visitors can fly into the city from the Robert Bradshaw International Airport, which features direct flights from major US and European cities, including Miami, Florida and London, England. During peak vacation seasons, a number of regional airports also fly directly into the city. For visitors who have arrived in the city, there are a number of bus routes and taxi cabs to help navigate the city, along with a Railway train which crosses the city.

City Landmarks

The main center of the city are Independence Square. As the commercial center of the city, Independence is home to a number of historic buildings, local merchants as well as tours of the city’s history. The city also has a rich religious, Anglican tradition as embodied in St. George’s Church, which dates back to 1710, and has been re-built several times to restore its structure, and serves as a prominent church in modern St. Kitts. The Warner Park Sporting Complex serves as the athletic center of the city, hosting tennis, volleyball and cricket matches, including the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

History of St. Kitts and Nevis

With a long standing native population, Saint Kitts and Nevis served as home to the Kalinago tribe for centuries. In the 17th century, the the advent of European colonization, the tribe subsequently came into conflict with the British and French, who aggressively colonized the Islands. As a result, St. Kitts and Nevis has a varied cultural history, infused with traditions from both native West Indian tribes as well as a legacy of European influence.

By 1625, the French and British had partitioned St. Kitts Island into colonies, and subsequently began to build settlements on the Island of Nevis by 1630. The Islands became a core West Indies anchor for the European tribes, who went on to further colonize Antigua, Anguilla, Martinique and Saint Barths. As a testament to the strong European and American influence on the Islands, President Hamilton was born on the Islands, and grew up in the region before rising to prominence in American politics.

For much of their history, Saint Kitts and Nevis were governed independently, until the British combined governance in the 19th century. Over the course of the 20th century, the Islands increasingly gained autonomy, and Anguilla became a separate governing entity. In the 1960s, the Islands remains part of the British empire, as political movements sought to grant the country independence; by the 1980s, the Islands gains sovereignty and self-rule. Led by the Labour and Nevis Reformation Parties, the country’s political movements shifted from seeking partition within the islands to autonomy from European control. Today, Saint Kitts and Nevis is evolving from an economy driven by sugar exports to a tourism destination for travelers throughout the world.