TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mardi Gras Grand Case

Headed over from Orient Bay early for parking around 4:30. Parked behind the Catholic Church and took the last place available there. Headed to the boulevard as the vendors were setting up. Checked out some of the usual stores as the street got set up and did the lo lo for dinner. By 6 everything was busy and the street was crowded from the lo lo's to past the church. Seen a lot of new vendors and much better quality stuff for sale along with some we remembered from years before. I was a little disappointed that i didn't see the guy making Ice Cream. Food trucks and a mobile boutique were new to us too. Not as much music as we remembered and no carnival band but we are old and left around 7:30 so it may have happened later. Boulevard was packed with people by 7 in spots you had to squeeze by. When we left so many cars were roaming the back streets of the village trying to find parking we had a hard time getting out. Lots of cars lined up to turn at the airport entrance but it looked like it was filled. We defiantly will go back on Fat Tuesday and have family coming in March so will return with them too. Best advice is go early and if dinning at any of the restaurants make a reservation La villa was packed Ocean One had tables open but it was early.

John--thanks for the report. My understanding is that the parade and music start around 8-8:30 PM.

then we will have to take a nap!

Thanks for the report! Just hit me we haven’t done MG since prepandemic and we’ll be there on the island for Fat Tuesday. But I do I feel brave?🧐 lol.

JohnB you must be pumped for The Super Bowl, go Eagles!

Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday…the period of festivities leading up to it is Carnival

If I remember right though, carnival runs much longer in the Carribean? I recall seeing a huge carnival parade….near the old Heineken plane restaurant, in April….back in…2011.


So this just hit me, I’m assuming that Tuesday night on actual Mardi Gras, it might be EVEN more crowded that usual? Possible parades with dancers?

I’m debating whether to brave the crowds ….

Captain--The event in Grand Case is NOT called Mardi Gras, but Les Mardis de Grand Case. It used to be called Harmony Nights. That's how I think of it, because I can't remember the real name. I think there is supposed to be a parade with dancers every Tuesday night in Grand Case. The big Carnival celebration on the island is on the Dutch side, and it is later than the event in Grand Case.

@Carol_Hill - that is correct, the Tuesday night event is back. I'm anchored close in to shore right now and am waiting for Tuesday; although it will be blowing 20-30 knots this weekend I'll just grin and bear it.

Zanshin--sure would love to see some of your pictures from next Tuesday night's festivities!

I've got my lens for night photography all ready and will probably use a tripod for some better quality shots. Pictures will be posted on Wednesday

Great! Looking forward to it!

Are you taking any pics of the multi-hull racing this weekend? Would love to see those too!

I might be volunteering and if I'm on the committee boat then I'll get some good pictures. I did get a picture in Grand Case of some of the racers practicing getting their sails up and the one of them setting their chutes turned out to be unfocused. These are all Balance Catamarans.

Thanks for the pics and the video!

My mistake, the topic title was Mardi Gras and I’m thinking it’s coincident to have a “harmony night” on Mardi Gras

Did the street shows in front of the Maho casino return?

Yes, you're right, I should have corrected the title of the thread at the start.

Anyone here planning on being there? We could do a TTOL celebratory drink at Max's Place!

There I was, all alone in a corner of Max's Place in Grand Case waiting for the TTOL crowds to flock in. Just like "Waiting for Godot", nobody showed Nevertheless, I met some other folks and had a such a grand time that I missed the dancers in the parade not once, but twice! All I saw was the procession moving away from me. But I did get a couple of shots:

Zanshin--thanks for the pics! Hopefully you will still be there next week? Are they having it next week, since that would be Valentine's Day?

I'm probably still going to be here - the weather reports don't show any improvement over the next couple of days and I won't leave here until I get a windstill day (I need to drop my genoa sail). So I'll be here this coming Tuesday. I believe the French announcement said "every Tuesday", but haven't checked to see if there are exceptions.

OK, thanks.