Welcome to Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua has a wide variety of activities and events going on year round.  The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, one of the world’s premier yachting events, is held annually in mid April.  The Antigua Sailing Week brings in top sailors late April for a week of fun and sea spray and some great dock parties at Jolly Harbor. During this same April timeframe, the Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Festival brings a dazzling array of colors to the blue Antigua sky, which is a great event for families. 

From July through November is the peak hawksbill turtle nesting season, on Pasture Bay Beach on the island resort of Jumby Bay. Tours can be booked through The Environmental Awareness Group.

December brings a holiday spirit to the island with a number of special events. Go to Nelson’s Dockyard on Christmas Day for a very lively champagne party with live music and dancing from mid-day until everyone’s done.

One of the island’s most spectacular annual events is the Great Carnival of Antigua and Barbuda. For 10 days, culminating the first Monday and Tuesday in August, revelers party from early evening until the wee hours of the morning to the rhythm and beat of steel band drums.

Inspired by the splendor of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation and a desire for a yearly festival symbolizing freedom, the people of Antigua and Barbuda take no shortcuts in designing elaborate costumes and extravagantly decorated floats. Tourists are welcome to join the community in the traditional “Jump Up”, a kaleidoscope of singing, dancing and laughter throughout this festival. The event ends as the bands parade into Carnival City, in the Recreation Grounds at St. John’s.