Yole race
'Gorges de la Falaise'
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Diamant Beach
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Calendar
Martinique - Caribbean Festivals
Hibiscus flower
There is a wealth of sightseeing attractions, special events and Caribbean festivals on the island that are best begun with a visit to the Martinique Tourist Office CMT (Comite Martiniquais du Tourisme), located in Schoelcher at Immeuble Beaupré Pointe de Jaham 97233 Schoelcher.
Tel: (596) 596 61 61 77
The office is open 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Tourist Office Information Desk at the airport stays open daily until the last flight comes in. Complimentary maps, magazines and information booklets are available from the English-speaking staff, which is well versed in suggestions about what to see and do. Among free publications in French and English are the digest-sized Choubouloute, a compact listing of island happenings, as well as descriptions of self-drive tours designed by the Tourist Office, along with many other items of tourist interest. Taxis or motorcoaches also can provide similar sightseeing tours.
Details on organized island excursions by tour operators can be obtained from the Tourist Office and from hotel desks.
Calendar of events 2008
- August 3 - 10
24th edition Tour des Yoles Rondes,
(a spectacular Yawl Boat Race.)
Yawl boat race, unique to Martinique.
Departure and arrival: Le Robert.
Curved-bottomed craft thus called as opposed to flat-bottomed boats. It is a week-long regatta of traditional racing sailing boats run around the island of Martinique in seven stages. The Tour des Yoles Rondes of Martinique is probably the most popular event on the island as it is followed by the whole population and by an increasing number of visitors and journalists from abroad.
Bring cameras, zooms lens and binoculars or follow the race by boat.
Round Skiff (Yoles rondes) Society of Martinique
Address: Maison des sports – Pointe de la vierge - 97200 Fort de France
Tel: (596) 596 61 48 50
Fax: (596) 596 72 02 53
Email: ecrire@yoles-rondes.org
Web: www.yoles-ronde.org
Saint's Days
Every village in Martinique celebrates its Saint's Day. On these days the villages are animated with games, shows, folk dancing, and other amusements.
The major festivities take place over the weekend.
Patron Saints will be celebrated in the following cities:
- January
Marin
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 74 90 02
Diamant
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 76 40 11 - February
Trois-Ilets
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 68 31 11
Sainte-Luce
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 62 50 01 - March
Sainte-Luce
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 62 50 01
Trois Ilets
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 68 31 11
- May
Saint-Joseph
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 57 60 06
Saint-Esprit
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 56 61 02 - June
Rivère-Salée
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 68 01 90
Basse-Pointe
City Hall - tel: (596) 596 78 50 44
Trinité
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 58 20 12 - Saint-Pierre
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 78 10 32
- Marigot
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 53 50 09 - July
Marigot
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 53 50 09 - Gros-Morne
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 67 50 11 - Carbet
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 78 00 40 - Anses d'Arlet
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 68 62 02 - Schoelcher
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 72 72 72 - Sainte-Anne
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 76 73 06 - Macouba
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 78 53 68
- August
Bellefontaine
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 55 00 45
Prêcheur
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 52 98 62
Lamentin
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 66 68 88
Sainte-Marie
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 69 30 06
Case-Pilote
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 78 81 44
Lorrain
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 53 43 18
Morne-Rouge
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 52 30 23
Robert
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 65 10 05
- September
Ducos
city hall - Tel: (596) 596 77 18 18
- October
François
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 54 30 02
Fonds-Saint-Denis
city hall - Tel: (596) 596 55 88 88 - Novembre
Morne-Vert
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 55 51 47
Grand-Rivière
City hall - tel: (596) 596 55 77 77 - December
Rivière-Pilote
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 62 60 03
Ajoupa-Bouillon
City hall - Tel: (596) 596 53 32 22
Sainte-Luce
City Hall - Tel: (596) 596 62 50 01
CULTURAL CENTERS
L'ATRIUM
Centre Culturel Départemental de la Martinique
This state-of-the-art cultural center offers annual thematic programming that features classical music, world music, jazz, poetry, dance performances, etc. Up-to-date exhibits of current art and animations created in Martinique are also featured.
6, rue Jacques CAZOTTE
97200 Fort de France
MARTINIQUE (FWI)
Tel: (596) 596 60 78 78
Fax: (596) 596 60 88 20
Email: atrium-info@cgste.mq
CMAC
Centre Martiniquais d'Action Culturelle.
The center has shows all year round, as well as movies, music, Rencontres Caribéenes de Theatre (Caribbean Theater Groups) in July, and a biennial International Guitar Festival acclaimed as "one of the world's most prestigious guitar events."
This December, the 2007 International Guitar and Jazz Festival will feature major artists in concerts. (exact dates TBA.)
6, rue Jacques CAZOTTE
97200 Fort de France
MARTINIQUE (FWI)
Tel: (596) 596 70 79 29
Fax: (596) 596 63 52 07
Programs: (596) 596 70 79 39
Web: www.cmac.asso.fr
Email:info@cmac.asso.fr
SERMAC
Service Municipal d'Action Culturelle.
The Festival de Fort de France, is held every year in July for two weeks. It features theater, music and shows at the Grand Carbet in Parc Floral and the Théâtre Municipal in Fort-de-France.
Parc Floral Fort-de-France
Tel: (596) 596 71 66 25
OMC DU MARIN
The annual Festival du Marin takes place in August
Tel: (596) 596 74 90 74
OMC Robert
The Aqua Festival is a sailing festival held each year in April
featuring shows and parades around the magnificent Bay of Robert.
Tel: (596) 596 65 10 05
OMCDAC Sainte-Marie
Contact them for news about the Cultural Festival in August.
Tel: (596) 596 69 47 31
or (596) 596 69 49 11
OMC Saint-Pierre
Enjoy Le Mai de Saint-Pierre, an annual festival in commemoration of the 1902 Mont Pelée volcano eruption.
Tel: (596) 596 78 10 32
or (596) 596 78 15 02
Gommier race
Club des gommiers. Société martiniquaise des yoles rondes.
Tel: (596) 596 62 42 20
Yoles boats races
Société martiniquaise des yoles rondes
Tel: (596) 596 61 48 50
The correct telephone dialing procedure for Martinique from the United States is:
011 ((596) 596 XX XX XX)