Antigua and Barbuda enjoy beautiful weather almost all your round and have enough beaches for you to visit a different one each day of the year without ever running out. That makes this sun-swept paradise the perfect place both to party, and to relax, which is why you’ll find there is always something going on.
With so much beautiful coastline, it is no surprise that many of the parties, events and celebrations are centred around yachting, boating and beaches. Here’s a year-round list of dates to add to your diary. But rest assured, whatever occasion fits in with your holiday or trip, the people of the Caribbean are always sure to give you a warm, friendly and enthusiastic welcome.
JANUARY
- Helping Hand Foundation 6th Annual New Year’s Sports Classic: 5th January – 18th January 2020
- Antigua Yacht Club ‘Round the Island’ Race: 18th January 2020
- Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: (rowers begin arriving) taliskerwhiskeyatlanticchallenge.com
- 5th Annual Sir Andy Roberts Community Spirit Day: 26th January 2020, Bolans Playing Field
www.facebook.com/sir-andy-roberts-community-development-foundation
FEBRUARY
- Round Redonda Race: 12th February 2020
- Jolly Harbor Valentine’s Regatta: 14th February – 15th February 2020
- Antigua 360 Race: 21st February 2020
- Royal Oceanic Race Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 race: 24th February – 28th February 2020 caribbean600.rorc.org
- Sir Richie Richardson Golf Day: Cedar Valley Golf Club Antigua facebook.com/richierichsportsandleisure
MARCH
- The Annual AUA Rohrman Antigua Triathlon: 7th and 8th March 2020
- Superyacht Challenge Antigua: 11th March – 15th March 2020
- SOOTHE: A Night of Neo-Soul, Jazz Rhythms and Spoken Words: 14th March 2020
(Tel: 268-732-7685) www.facebook.com/soothelounge
- Playing to Inspire 4 with the Duke Ellington School of Arts: 21 March 2020
Antigua & Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Kanneh- Masons
Venue TBC (Tel: 268-562-7600)
- Antigua Yacht Club Annual Laser Open:
APRIL
- Antigua Class Yacht Regatta: 1st April – 7th April 2020
- Antigua and Barbuda Horticultural Society Flower and Garden Show: 4th April 2020
(Tel: 268-463-2070) http://www.antiguahorticulture.com/calendar/
- Good Friday- Easter: 10th April– 13th April 2020
- Antigua & Barbuda International Kite Festival: 13th April 2020 Devil’s Bridge
- Peters & May Round Antigua Race: 25th April 2020
- The Annual Antigua Sailing Week: 26thApril -1st May 2020
- GARD Centre’s Annual Farm to Table Benefit Luncheon: Gilbert’s Agro-Heritage Centre, Mercer’s Creek gardc.org
MAY
- Dockyard Day: 2nd May 2020
Nelson’s Dockyard, (Tel: 268-732-6366) www.sailingweek.com
- Antigua to Bermuda Race: Begins in Antigua, 6th May 2020
- Antigua and Barbuda Culinary and Bartending Competition: 8th May – 10th May 2020
- Run in Paradise: Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K: 24th May 2020
- Mikie Pigott Jr. Memorial Classic: 29th May 2020
- Barbuda’s Caribana Celebrations: 29th May – 1st June 2020
- 54th Annual Antigua and Barbuda Sport Fishing Tournament: 30th May – 31st May 2020, Nelson’s Dockyard antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com
- Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week
JUNE
- ‘June is Romance Month’ Promotions
- 29th Annual Whit Monday 4 x 1.5 Miles Road Relay & Walk: 1st June 2020
Caribbean Union Bank Headquarters (Tel: 268-788-8783)
- Showcase Antigua Barbuda: 10th and 11th June 2020
- Antigua and Barbuda Yoga Week: 14th June – 21st June 2020
- International Day of Yoga: 21st June 2020
- Shiva’s School of Dance Annual Production: 20th June and 21st June 2020
JULY
- Antigua and Barbuda Pineapple Mango Festival (PiAngo Fest): July – August 2020
- 62nd Anniversary Celebrations of Antigua’s Carnival: The Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival: 23rd July – 4th August 2020
AUGUST
- The ‘Buy Local’ Arts and Craft Street Fair: John’s City
- Carnival Monday: 3rd August 2020
- Carnival Tuesday: 4th August 2020
- Ounces Seafood Festival: 6th August 2020, Ounces Ice Cream Parlor & Grill, Parham
(Tel: 268-562-4440 / 268-774-0047)
- Urlings Seafood Festival: 8th August 2020
- ABABW Federation Annual National Bodybuilding Championships: com/AntiguaBodybuilding (Tel: 268-778-9280)
SEPTEMBER
- 13th Annual Warriors Cup International Soccer Tournament & Youth Cup:
(Antigua & Barbuda Men’s and Women’s Club Team; Youth teams – U8, U10, U12, U14):
3rd September – 6th September 2020
(Tel: 268-786-0115; 268-562-6227/268-460-245
- World Tourism Day: 27th September 2020
- Francis Nunes Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament & Seafood Festival: 26th September – 27th September 2020
www.antiguabarbudasportsfishing.com
OCTOBER
- Antigua and Barbuda’s 39th Anniversary of Independence Celebration Events Begin
- Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Sports Tourism Tri20 Cricket Tournament: 4th October – 12th October 2019, Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium
(Tel: 1-268-562-7548)
NOVEMBER
- Antigua and Barbuda’s 39th Anniversary of Independence: 1st November 2020
- Antigua and Barbuda Independence Ceremonial Parade: 1st November 2020
- Antigua and Barbuda Independence Food Fair: 1st November 2020
- Jolly Harbour Yacht Club Annual Regatta:
- Music for a Cause:
DECEMBER
- Antigua Charter Yacht Show: 4th –9th December 2020
(Tel: 268-460-1530) www.antiguayachtshow.com
- C. Bird Day: 9th December 2020
- Gemonites Moods of Pan Festival:
(Tel: 268-464-5007) www.facebook.com/gemonitesmoodsofpan
- Ana’s Restaurant Christmas Souk:
(Tel: 562-8562)www.anas.ag
- Budget Marine Hightide Series:
- Nelson’s Dockyard Christmas Day Champagne Party: 25th December 2020
- Boxing Day Horseracing Meet: 26th December 2020, Codrington, Barbuda
- Nelson’s Dockyard Old Year’s Night Party: 31st December 2020 antiguayachtclub.com
- Nelson’s Pursuit Race: Antigua Yacht Club
Ongoing Events:
- Antigua Hash House Harriers: Every other Saturday www.facebook.com/HashHouseHarriers
- Antigua Yacht Club “Mini Dinghy Regattas”: every second Sunday www.antiguayachtclub.com
- Jolly Harbour Yacht Club: weekly Saturday Sailing. www.facebook.com/Jolly-Harbour-Yacht-Club
- Copper and Lumber Seafood Fridays: Every Friday, Nelson’s Dockyard
- Shirley Heights “Made with Pride in Antigua”: Every Thursday from December – April
- Shirley Heights Sunset BBQ Party: Every Sunday
Seasonal Events:
- Cricket Season: January – July
- Netball Season: January – July
- Volleyball Season: January – December
- Horseracing Season: January – December
- Basketball Season: February – July
- Cycling Season – February – November
- Turtle Watching Season – July – October
- Football Season: August – February
- Artisans Antigua Travelling Market www.facebook.com/Artisans-Antigua-Travelling-Market
- New Exhibitions at the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda: throughout the year
For a list of the latest events, go to www.visitantiguabarbuda.com
To find a villa in Antigua go to www.villaretreats.com/antigua