With plenty of food, music, and dancing on the itineraries, Discover Dominica Authority is bringing back all three of its iconic, crowd-pleasing festivals that celebrate the heritage of the island in 2023. Located south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, this destination is known as the Nature Island thanks to its abundant rainforest, lush tropical surroundings, and towering mountains against the backdrop of the sea. And visitors flock to here from all over the world to take part in its cultural festivals.
Many islands celebrate their version of carnival, but none do it like Domenica’s Mas Dominik, scheduled for February 20-21. Dubbed ‘the Real Mas’ for its authenticity, islanders commemorate their African and French roots with a 48-hour party of street parades, during which locals and visitors perform and enjoy lively music and display artwork. This is the most original—and some will say, best—carnival in the Caribbean, as travelers often come weeks early to join the pre-carnival preparations and festivities including Calypso shows, individual village events, and pageants.
Dominica’s 12th annual Jazz ‘N Creole festival will be held April 30 at Fort Shirley in Cabrits National Park to celebrate the island’s Creole influence and traditions. This family-friendly event treats visitors to an entire day of music by famous artists. The party starts the week prior with jazz-themed activities held across the island and comes to a peak as featured artists take the stage, playing the sounds of the island’s iconic music that will have attendees dancing in their seats.
Creole influence again takes center stage in the fall with the World Creole Music Festival running October 27-29. This event coincides with Dominica’s annual independence activities and features three days of live music including styles like Cadence-lypso, Kompa, Zouk, Soukous, Bouyon, Zydeco, and Afrobeat, among others. Also known as the “Three Nights of Pulsating Rhythm,” this festival has become a signature Caribbean event that attracts visitors from all over the world.
