Yole race

"Gorges de la Falaise" in Ajoupa Bouilon
'Gorges de la Falaise'
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Diamant Beach - Martinique
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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

January

The General Council Equestrian Grand Prix
Tel: (596) 596 51 88 36 or (596) 596 55 26 00
Fax: (596) 596 73 59 32
Web: www.cg972.fr
Matnik Caribbean Carnival
Carnival parade with groups from Martinique and other Caribbean islands
Association Matjilpa
Tel: (596) 696 45 23 68 or (596) 696 34 63 00
Email: ridica@wanadoo.fr
The Mornes Challenge (Défi des Mornes)
Hiking competition
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
Web: www.tchimberaid.com

February

February 2 to 6
Carnival
Four days (Dimanche gras, Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday) of revelry and joyous celebrations…
All business comes to a halt.
Streets spill over with parties and parades.
Martinique Tourism Authority
Tél: (596) 596 61 61 77
Fax: (596) 596 61 22 72 or (596) 596 61 09 59
Email: infos@martiniquetourisme.com
Web: www.martiniquetourisme.com
The Mornes Challenge (Défi des Mornes)
Hiking competition
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
Web: www.tchimberaid.com
Schœlcher Nautical Week
Internationale Sailing Competition
Cercle Nautique de Schœlcher
Address: Anse Madame, 97233 Schoelcher
Tel: (596) 596 61 20 83
Fax (596) 596 61 57 51
Email: cns@ais.mq
Web: www.cnschoelcher.com

March

The Mornes Challenge (Défi des Mornes)
Hiking competition
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
Web: www.tchimberaid.com
March 22
Randonuit (Hike night)
Torch-lit guided trek featuring scientific activities, dinner with music, and games. For its 10th anniversary « Randonuit » will take place in Basse-Pointe.
Ce Cédille Association
Address: quartier AKR - 97218 Basse Pointe
Tel: (596) 596 52 80 82
Fax: (596) 596 52 81 92
Email: infoplus@cecedille.net
Web: www.cecedille.net
March 24
La Patte d’Or (The Golden Paw)
Easter Crab Festival: Games and activities focused around the sand crab
SAS
Addess:18 rue Ernest Maugée, BP 47, 97232 Le Lamentin
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 51 88 38
Email: sas972@wanadoo.fr
Travel and Vacations Show
Open Soft-System
Madiana Convention Center in Schoelcher
Address: Boite postale 7105 – 97276 Schoelcher cedex
Tel: (596) 596 61 16 32
or (596) 596 22 79 46
Fax: (596) 596 61 18 99
Email: open-soft@wanadoo.fr
City of Rivière-Pilote Agricultural Fair
Exhibition, sale of local products, fool courts and musical shows
Address: Ancienne école maternelle, rue du Marronage, 97211 Riviere-Pilote
Tel: (596) 596 62 60 03
Fax: (596) 596 62 91 20
Email: open-soft@wanadoo.fr

April

The Mornes Challenge (Défi des Mornes)
Hiking competition
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
Web: www.tchimberaid.com
International Meeting of Athletics
General Council IAAF
Address: boulevard Chevalier Sainte Marthe-97 200 Fort de France
Tel: (596) 596 63 89 84
Fax: (596) 596 63 25 18
Email : dvls-sport@cg972.fr or brigittemurielle@cg972.fr
Website: www.cg972.fr
Balana
Inter caribbean Boat Show
Caribbean Sands
Address: Pointe Chaudière – 97280 le Vauclin
Tel: (596) (596) 696 31 27 50
Email: flo.caraibe@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.tchimberaid.com

May

May 22
Slavery Abolition Commemoration
Celebration of the abolition of slavery by Victor Schoelcher
Conference, walk with the torches, large market, folk ballet.
Schoelcher Tourist Office
Tel: (596) 596 61 83 92
Email: odt-schoelcher@wanadoo.fr
May in Saint-Pierre
Major commemoration of 1902 Mont Pelée volcano eruption.
Exhibitions, shows, lectures and commemorative walks.
May 8 is the anniversary date of the 1902 Mount Pelée eruption
OMNIAC (Saint-Pierre office of tourism and culture)
Address: Hôtel de ville –rue Caylus – 97250 Saint -Pierre
Tel: (596) 596 78 13 98
Email: omniac@voila.fr
Lamentin Jazz Project, 6th edition
Jazz festival
Cultural Office of Lamentin
Tel: (596) 596 51 24 09
Email: ocl-communication@wanadoo.fr
May 12 - 20
Gastronomic week
In Sainte-Marie
13th Annual Culinary Week.
International chef's contest, promotional menus, food exhibits, dinner-dance.
Osatour (Sainte-Marie Tourist Office)
Address: rue Ernest deproge - BP 62 -972030 Sainte Marie
Tel: (596) 596 69 13 83
Fax: (596) 596 69 40 62
Email: osatour@wanadoo.fr
Contemporary Art Market, 6th edition
Art fair in Marin.
Address: 2 rue Osman Duquesnay – 97 290 le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 90 02
Fax: (596) 596 74 96 60
Email: ville-marin@wanadoo.fr
Madiflora
Plant and flower fair
Saint Pierre Rotary Club
Tél: (596) 596 61 93 34
Email: cristian.rapha@wanadoo.fr
Tchimbé Raid Matnik
11th edition of a 37 mile hike (60km) competition from Fort de France to Grand-Rivière
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
web: www.tchimberaid.com
Regional Council Caribbean pétanque Grand prix
International Pétanque Competition (French Bocci ball)
Club Bouliste de Saint Pierre
Address : Rue Royale 97 250 Saint Pierre
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 78 85 84

June

The Mornes Challenge (Défi des Mornes)
Hiking competition
Club Tchimbe Raid
Tel: (596) 696 29 79 01
Email: mail@tchimberaid.org
Web: www.tchimberaid.com
June 21
Fête de la Musique
National and international day of music, free street concerts
DRAC
Tel: (596) 596 60 05 36
Sugar Cane Crop Over Festival
Sainte-Marie
Saint-James Rum Museum
Tel : (596) 596 69 30 02
or (596) 596 69 50 37
Email: rhums.st.james@wanadoo.fr
Festival de Haute Taille et des Quadrilles du Monde
Traditional dances: Haute Taille and Square Dance Festival
City of François
Address: mairie du François - place Charles de Gaulle
Tel: (596) 596 54 84 31
Fax: (596) 596 54 84 29
Email: culture@ville-francois.fr

July

International Bicycle Race, 29th edition
Weekend bicycle race
Martinique Cycling Committee
Address : Avenue Salvador Allende - cité Dillon
bat T, esc 3, Porte 2 - 97200 Fort de France
Tel: 596 596 63 21 39
Fax: 596 596 05 41
web: www.martiniquetour.com
Cultural nights
19th edition Music, dance and theater in Rivière-Pilote.
OMPACS (Rivière Pilote Cultural Services)
Address: Boulevard septembre 1870 – 97 211 Rivière Pilote
Tel: (596) 596 62 70 06
Email: ompacs@wanadoo.fr
37th Edition Festival of Fort-de-France
Theater, dance, music, exhibitions, concerts and shows
in the capital and its suburbs.
Sermac (Municipal Cultural Services of Fort-de-France)
Address: place José Marti – 97 200 Fort de France
Tel: (596) 596 71 66 25
Fax: (596) 596 71 90 14
web: www.fortdefrance.fr
Festival "Metis'Art"
Fond Saint-Jacques Cultureal Center
Address: 11 rue du pavé - 97 230 Sainte Marie
Tel: (596) 596 69 10 12
Fax: (596) 596 69 21 58
Email: ccrfsj@sasi.fr
Web: www.sasi.fr/habitationfondsaintjacques
Martinique Tourism Authority Round Skiff Grand prix
Yawl boat race, unique to Martinique.
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

August

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

September

Heritage Days
Culture and heritage days, "open house" for most cultural buildings and museums Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles.
Tel: (596) 596 60 05 36
E-mail: line.melezan@culture.gouv.fr
International Tourism Day
Martinique Tourism Authority (CMT)
Tel: (596) 596 61 61 77
Fax : (596) 596 61 22 72
Email: info.cmt@martiniquetourisme.com
Web: www.touristmartinique.com

October

Fête de la Science – Science Festival
Carbet des Sciences
Tel: (596) 596 59 75 02
Fax: (596) 596 59 75 08
Email: carbet-des-sciences@martinique.univ-ag.fr
Web: www.carbet-des-sciences.org

November

November 1 & 2
All Saints Day
Religious holiday honoring the dead and the saints –
Cemeteries are illuminated.
Festival des Sens, 5th edition
24 hours of Creative arts - music, dance, singing, drawing, over 200 artiists.
Marin
Association Chouval Bwa Kiltirel
Tel: (596) 596 74 69 27
Email: calebasse@wnadoo.fr
Web: www.calebasse.com
The Marin International Deep-sea Fishing Tournament, 17th edition
In Marin
Martinique Bifffish Association
Address: Yacht club de la Martinique,
boulevard chevalier Sainte Marthe - 97200 Fort de France
Tel: (596) 696 45 83 58
Email: duplan@cg972.fr
Web: www.martinique-billfish.org
November 11
La Belle Martinique
Cycling event open to all cycling fans – more a cycling tour of the island than a competition
Martinique Cycling Committee
Tel: (596) 596 63 21 39
Fax: (596) 596 60 05 41
Web: www.martiniquetour.com/cyclisme
23rd Edition International Half Marathon of Fort-de-France
21.1 km race around Fort-de-France
Sports Services of Fort de France
Address: Espace Nicole Zaré- Dillon
Tel: (596) 596 39 31 02
Fax: (596) 596 39 48 51
Web: www.semimartinique.com

December

Rum Festival
Celebrates the making of rum at the St. James distillery
Sainte-Marie
The St.James museum/distillery
Tel: (596) 596 69 30 02
or (596) 596 69 50 37
Fax: (596) 596 69 29 60
Email: rhums.st.james@wanadoo.fr
Arlésienne Cultural week
Fair, arts, music, Lectures and conferences
City Hall Anses d’Arlet (Cultural Department)
Tel: (596) 596 68 63 93
Fax: (596) 596 68 68 35
Email : oma5@wanadoo.fr
Grand Raid Manikou
80-mile hiking competition from Sainte-Anne to Grand Rivière
Club Manikou
Tel: (596) 596 60 85 01 or (596) 696 74 12 10
Email: pacha.chapelle@wanadoo.fr
Website: www.grandraidmanikou.com

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: