Bankie Banx, who formed his band The Roots and Herbs in 1970, was one of the Eastern Caribbean's first reggae artists. After years of traveling through Europe, he ended up in New York, where he developed his distinct sound, a fusion of folk and reggae, earning him the moniker "the Anguillan Bob Dylan." Banx began organizing the annual event in the early 1990s. Originally conceived as a series of beach concerts on Anguilla and the surrounding islands, the event grew and eventually found a home at Banx's Dune Preserve. The Rendezvous Bay bar/restaurant, formerly known as Planet Dune, is made of old boats and salvaged wood and serves as the main stage for the three-day event- the Moonsplash festival. Anguillan musicians are now honored at the island's March festival, the Moonsplash festival. Along with three other festivals, it is among the four most famous festivals in Anguilla

Steel Pulse, Third World, Inner Circle, Buju Banton, Toots & The Maytals, Jimmy Buffett, and John Mayer have all graced the ramshackle stage of this annual three-day music festival over the years. The festival is low-key even by Caribbean standards, serving as a cultural counterpoint to Anguilla's upscale hotels and enclaves: think driftwood bars and buildings, blissed-out revelers lounging on the beach all night, and world-class music performed in the most unlikely of settings.

Takes place: in February

Boating-mad Every May, Anguilla hosts its annual regatta, which includes a variety of beach parties as well as races between spinnaker, non-spinnaker, monohull, and multihull sailboats. The regatta's proceeds will all go to the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club. The races can be seen from some of Anguilla's most popular spots, including Rendezvous Bay, Maunday's Bay, Mead's Bay, and Road Bay.

Top sailors from around the world, as well as Anguilla, compete in the island's annual regatta for glory and to raise funds for the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club each May. This four-day event, as previously stated, includes beach parties as well as races between spinnaker, non-spinnaker, monohull, and multihull sailboats. Spectators line the beaches of Rendezvous Bay, Meads Bay, and other locations to cheer on their favorite athletes. You should visit the Anguilla Regatta website at http://www.anguillaregatta.com/ for more information on participating and last year's results if you intend to take part in the Anguilla Regatta festival. Toplist believes it is definitely an experience to remember as you explore the most famous festivals in Anguilla.

Takes place: May

The bounty of the sea has always outweighed that of the land on Anguilla, which helps to explain the island's rich fishing and boating culture. The island's Festival del Mar celebrates this history each Easter with boat races (both full-size and model!), a fishing tournament, swim races, a traditional cooking competition, crab races, and, of course, concerts, food, and plenty of drink. Those things have made it one of the most famous festivals in Anguilla

Festival Del Mar, held around Easter in the quaint fishing village of Island Harbor on the island's east end, is a celebration of all things sea. Real and model boat races, a fishing tournament, swim races, a traditional cooking competition, and crab races bring life to this normally quiet working fishing village. This festival's main draw for visitors is the abundance of concerts, food and drink. This is definitely an interesting and memorable experience you should not miss.

Takes place: around Easter

The last of the famous festivals in Anguilla is Anguilla Summer Festival. Anguilla Summer Festival began in 1940 as a boat race and has since evolved into the multi-day Caribbean "Carnival" and never-ending beach parties that it is today. The bay ("Road Bay"), which is held on the beach in Sandy Ground Village, attracts hundreds of people and boats from all over the Caribbean, not just Anguilla. The events begin at the end of July, but the main boat race and party take place on August Monday, which is the first Monday of August each year.

Private and party boats form a floating parking lot for the best viewing spot, and residents and tourists alike celebrate with music, dancing, and food, while crewed boats race around the island at breakneck speeds for bragging rights, eligibility for other future races, and the coveted title of champion.

Other events leading up to the main event include pageants, parades, fireworks, concerts, contests, and plenty of partying. Carnival is a spectacular place, but if you want quiet, uncrowded beaches, you should go at a different time of year. Because August Monday is a federal holiday, offices and many businesses (including grocery stores) are closed.

Takes place: on the first Monday of August