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