Situated between Martinique and St Vincent, St. Lucia abounds in natural beauty. The terrain is ruggedly beautiful in the southwest, centered around Soufriere. It’s a gorgeously scenic region of old sugar and cacao plantations, mountain-rimmed beaches most easily reached from the sea, and displays St. Lucia’s volcanic origins through the magnificent Pitons.
International Creole Day is the culmination of St. Lucia’s Jounen Kweyol Festival held in October. Held annually since 1984, it celebrates the French-African dialect widely spoken. It is held in four chosen communities each year.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel at 10 a.m. after breakfast, and take you to the closest of the island communities celebrating this year as he relates some background history about what you’ll see and it’s importance to the people of the island.
Throngs of locals turn out for the event, which is little publicized, more a celebration for residents to take pride in their heritage that in-the-know visitors are welcome to join in and experience. Festival grounds are marked by a large assemblage of booths and live music. Lucians wear traditional Madras wear the week leading up to the event.
Sample your way through many of the food booths, at which locals dish out an abundance of home-made traditional foods from family recipes with a welcoming smile. If it’s hot, a few bottles of ice-cold Piton beer help fend off the heat while quenching your thirst. Taste a little bit of everything, including such possible choices as the national dish of green figs (bananas), salty codfish and mixed vegetables, as well as locally-caught hard shell crab and perhaps a savory pork stew.
Get caught up in the local scene, and observe the mainly local crowd enjoying the vibrant beat of island music. Hear the delighted laughter of those enjoying simple yet fun games like a bean bag toss, others socializing and liming, relaxing with friends and family. It is a window into Lucian heritage and society that shouldn’t be missed by anyone interested in knowing more about the people and culture of this beautiful island.
Your driver will return you to your hotel by mid-afternoon.
