St. Maarten/St. Martin shines with a crowd-pleasing calendar of events. From festivals and regattas to dancing-in-the-street parades, there’s a party on every corner and you’re invited to join in the fun.

Carnival doesn’t just come and go on this Caribbean island. It lasts for months. Revelers on the Dutch side take to the streets the Wednesday after Easter for 15 days of calypso, costumes and camaraderie. Locals on the French side begin planning jump-ups, pageants and parades the second Sunday in January. Festivities peak in February and don’t stop until Ash Wednesday after Mardi Gras.

March brings hundreds of boats to the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, now in its 40th year. It’s four days of racing and fun-filled parties.

The Billfish Tournament in June attracts anglers hoping to land the big one. And on November 11 – the day that Columbus sighted the island in 1493 – residents of both sides commemorate their heritage with sporting events and parades.

Plan your trip around an event and come on out. Let’s get this party started!