Since 1996, Mustique Blues Festival has been the idea of London blues vocalist Dana Gillespie. Basil's Bar has since evolved into "The House of Blues," featuring rhythmic performances by local, regional, and worldwide musicians.

It takes place on the island of Mustique for two weeks in January and February, with a one-night stopover on the island of Bequia in the between. It has grown in popularity since its start and is a terrific spot to hear some blues and roots music. For music and excitement lovers, Mustique Blues Festival is heaven for you. Come and immerse yourself in the music of the Caribbean Sea.

Dates: Late January – Early February

Bequia Easter Regatta, which was once held at Whitsun but is currently celebrated around Easter for the past 35 years, is well-known for its distinctive blend of local doubleheader racing, sailboat racing, shoreside events, and Bequia hospitality.

A fleet of twenty or more traditional local boats from Bequia and the surrounding islands, some as small as 12 feet long and others as large as a ship. On the sparkling waters around Bequia, 28-foot-long sharks compete for supremacy in speed and agility. This five-day boat race takes place on the island of Bequia during Easter. Many professional and amateur sailors from across the world compete in the Caribbean Sea surrounding the island. It's quite a sight to see, and the last day sees massive festivities that last far into the night. Bequia Easter Regatta certainly is one of the most famous festivals in Saint Vincent and Grenadines.

Dates: April

One of the most famous festivals in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is Vincy Mas. The carnival, dubbed "The Hottest Carnival in the Caribbean," begins in the middle of June and runs through the first two weeks of July. This usually takes place on the first Monday and Tuesday in July, however, in certain years it may be moved to the second Monday and Tuesday.

Vincy Mas is a colorful and spectacular celebration of music, dance, and Vincentian tradition that draws thousands of tourists. Street celebrations, calypso and steel pan performances, costume parades, and other events bring towns to life.

Prior to 1977, it was observed in the days preceding the beginning of Lent, as is customary for the many Caribbean and Latin American Carnivals. Vincy Mas, like earlier carnivals, evolved its character in the eighteenth century by blending European carnival traditions with African religious rites brought by liberated slaves. J'Ouvert and Mardi Gras are the latter two days of Vincy Mas.

Dates: June - July

Independence Day is celebrated on October 27th in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This is St. Vincent and the Grenadines' National Day, which honors the islands' independence from the United Kingdom on this day in 1979.

On October 27, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declared independence from the United Kingdom. Since then, the nation has celebrated this day with great zeal and fervor every year. The historic aim of a "free St. Vincent and the Grenadines" was attained after decades of war and sacrifice, and the occasion is significant for all Vincentians.

Dates: October

Bequia proudly celebrates the unique Vincentian cultural custom of "Nine Mornings." In an exuberant countdown to Christmas, music, singing, and revelry take place all over the island for the nine nights before Christmas. Certainly, it is one of the most famous festivals in Saint Vincent, based on the number of participants.

The exact origins of the custom are unknown, but it is thought to have developed in St. Vincent following emancipation (and in its current form in the late 19th/early 20th century) as a fusion of multicultural forms of celebration - such as music, drums, and dance - with the Christian festival of Christmas, and later, in association with the early morning Christmas Novenas, which were previously celebrated at midday by the Catholic Church.

Musical activities and carols often take place under the Almond Tree nine days before Christmas, starting as early as 4 a.m., much to the surprise and delight of many tourists eager for a nice carol or two! So don't be shocked if you hear singing and revelry late into the night during Christmas week; it's all part of the Bequia experience! Caroling is a serious business for Bequians. Several weeks before Christmas, groups representing the island's villages and communities compete in an evening carol competition that is attended by the majority of the island's residents and visitors.

Dates: December