St. Patrick's Festival - March 9-18, 2013
St Patrick's Festival is a weeklong celebration highlighting Montserrat's local culture and Irish heritage that culminates with St. Patrick's Day on March 17, also a commemoration of the slave uprising on that very day in 1768. Events usually include a special service at the Catholic Church, a lecture, an exhibition, guided hikes in the forested mountains, the Freedom Run from Cudjoe Head to Salem Park, a St. Patricks Day dinner and a Junior Calypso Competition.
During the St. Patrick's Festival celebrations there's a simulated Slave Village with traditional local food on sale (the time-honored 'Slave Feast'), along with a revival of traditional games from yesteryear like hand-made spinning tops, story telling, and a kite flying festival.
Local culture and music are in focus and you'll be sure to see the Masqueraders (masked street dancers in traditional costumes, tall head dresses and whips) perform, prancing to the lively sound of fife and drum: a blend of African and European elements forged out of slavery. String band music, a traditional combination of instruments includes the banjo, 'boompipe', guitar, mouth organ, triangle, 'shak shak' and bass drum are also on show, along with steel band (steel drum) performances.
See Calendar of Events below.
Date | Event | Venue | Time |
Sat, March 9th | Twenty20 Cricket | Little Bay Cricket Ground | 1:00 p.m. |
Sun, March 10th | Fishing Competition | Fisherman's Village, Little Bay | 3:00 p.m.(Weigh - in) |
Mon, March 11th | St. Patrick's Day Lecture | Montserrat Cultural Center | 7:30 p.m. |
Tues, March 12th | Carr's' Bay Town Center Tour | Little Bay Market | 2:00 p.m. |
| Youth Jamboree and Fun Night | Salem Village | 7:00 p.m. |
Wed, March 13th | Emerald Community Singers in Concert with Martin Healy Band, special guest from Ireland | Salem Primary School | 7:30 p.m. |
Thurs, March 14th | Montserrat Rhythm Night | Salem Village | 7:00 p.m. |
| Rude Boys String Band Album Launch | Salem Village | 8:30 p.m. |
Fri, March 15th | Business and Customer Appreciation Day | Island-wide | All Day |
| Goat Water Sale | Little Bay Market | 11:00 a.m. |
| | Pub Crawl | Salem - St. John's | 6:00 p.m. |
| The Culture of Live Music - Band Clash in the Park | Salem Park | 8:00 p.m. |
Sat, March 16th | Freedom Hike | Cudjoe Head | 6:00 a.m. |
| | Under the Mango Tree Musical | Salem Primary School | 2:00 p.m. |
| | Under the Mango Tree Musical | Salem Primary School | 4:00 p.m. |
| St. Patrick's Day Dinner | Montserrat Cultural Centre | 7:00 p.m. |
| African Music Festival Main Concert | Salem Park | 9:00 p.m. |
Sun, March 17th | St. Patrick's Day Church Service | St. Patrick's Church, Lookout | 9:15 a.m. |
| African Music Festival ‘Fun in the Sun' Open Air Concert | Salem Park | 2:00 p.m. |
| Junior Calypso Finals | Salem Park | 7:30 p.m. |
Mon, March 18th | Freedom Run and Walk | Cudjoe Head to Salem Park | 6:00 a.m. |
| Slave Feast | Salem Village Centre | 1:00 p.m. |
