Vincy Mas

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