Good Time to Visit

Weather

St. Kitts and Nevis has a hot climate, tempered by trade winds throughout most of the year. It has an average annual temperature of 26°C, and an average annual rainfall of 138 cm. The dry period runs from January to April, with an increased rainfall from May to October and towards the end of the year. Violent tropical hurricanes are most likely between August and October.

Visitors are advised to bring tropical lightweight clothing, with light waterproofs recommended all year round.

Festivals

As in other Caribbean nations, the culture on St. Kitts and Nevis is festive and vibrant, and carnivals and celebrations play an important role in island life. At Christmas time, Carnival is in full swing on St. Kitts. The opening gala takes place in mid-December, with events going on until a few days after New Year's. The week celebration is full of parades, calypso competitions, floats and house parties. A popular aspect of Carnival is Masquerade (or Mas), which has evolved over the past 300 years from a mix of African and European traditions. Masquerade performers wear brightly patterned long-sleeved shirts with trousers, embellished with bangles, mirrors and ribbons. Topping off their costumes are masks and headdresses decorated with peacock feathers. Their dances combine elements of waltzes, jigs, wild mas, fertility dances, quadrilles and other traditional African and European dances. Stilt-walkers called Moko-Jumbies wear similar but simpler costumes; wearing stilts six to eight feet high, Moko-Jumbies dance to entertain the crowds.

In addition, there are other festivals on the island of Saint Kitts. There is Inner City Fest in February in Molineaux; Green Valley Festival usually around Whit Monday in village of Cayon; Easterama around Easter (April) in village of Sandy Point; Fest-Tab, around July-August in the village of Tabernacle; and La festival de Capisterre, around Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis (19th September), in the Capisterre region. These celebrations typically feature parades, street dances and salsa, jazz, soca, calypso and steelpan music. Other events in the year include St Kitts Cricket Festival, St Kitts Football Festival and Oceanfest, in October, which involves music, sunfish racing, dancing, a fishing tournament and lots of food.

Culturama is Nevis' premier festival and celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the 1830s. It is a five-day focus on their art and culture, and is celebrated around the weekend of Emancipation Day in August. In addition to arts and crafts, the celebration includes dances, music, drama, and fashion shows. Parties, boat rides, swimsuit contests and street jams have also become part of the festivities.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Saint Kitts and Nevis: