Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2019 | Page 412

span some twenty plus years, Montserrat offered similar activities, but now we have the opportunity to offer volcano tours and other soft adventure elements on the Northern side of the island which was almost untouched before. Any special events and festivals you will like to highlight and by so doing encourage our readers to travel to Montserrat to experience? From the middle of December to the beginning of January each year (December 21st – January 1st 2019), Montserrat also showcases the Christmas Festival where family and friends come together to herald in the Christmas spirit. During this time, the island’s wealth of talent, music, culture and history come to the fore - the perfect climax to the year. Locals and visitors are treated to local and regional calypso competitions, pageantry, steel pan performance. There is a procession of costumed revelers alongside the Festival Queen, Calypso King, Princesses and their entourages as they ride on elaborately decorated cars in the ever-popular New Year’s Day parade. The St. Patrick’s Festival is a celebration of the island's African and Irish heritage, which is held in March each year (March 8th – 18th, 2019). During this time, the Calendar is packed with a number of high-energy activities to include the infamous leprechaun’s revenge, cultural exhibitions and vibrant street jump ups known as J’ouverts. Visitors can also sample local cuisines, listen to traditional music, enjoy the Arrow Regional Soca Monarch Competition and masquerade performances. There are also opportunities to participate in other activities, such as freedom walk and run, hiking, heritage boat tour, St. Patrick's Day Parade and pub crawl. Another Festival of note is the Calabash Festival held in July of each year (July 14th – 21st, 2019). This week-long summer event highlights the hidden talents of local artisans and designers. Named after the calabash fruit which has traditionally been used to produce eating utensils, musical instruments and decorative items, this Festival includes a family fun day, hike, island tour, African fashion show, coastal excursions to the former capital city Plymouth and a craft and food fair. What message do you have for people considering Montserrat as their next vacation destination? That Montserrat is truly an amazing destination that is really different from any other. There is a special charm that the island exudes which can be experienced almost immediately upon arrival. It is unpretentious, picturesque, quaint, and is truly considered the way the Caribbean used to be. For persons seeking a hassle-free destination with their ultimate goal to relax, this is the place to be. For those who prefer to add some adventure to their trip, soft adventure activities are available including volcano viewing, ATV touring, hiking, birding, boating diving and snorkeling are also available. There is also the opportunity to be part of one of the island’s Annual Festivals. Yet another event worth highlighting is the Alliouagana Literary Festival (November 15th – 17th, 2019). This is a book lovers dream; it offers a mixture of lecture series, poetry and “open-mic” performances, book parade, workshops, book signings, and opportunities to meet regional and international authors. The island’s quiet charm combined with one’s creative juices is the ideal recipe for an extraordinary literary experience. Photo Credit: Montserrat Tourism Division