TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Question: Who likes Carnival & Mardi Gras Celebrations

We have seen these in the Bahamas, Jamaica and Curaçao. But not SXM.

I know everybody likes a party and maybe this is a good old excuse for a party.

But we can take or leave them like any holiday parade.

Question, do the locals put these on for the sake of themselves and they really like the tradition and the spectacle for local purposes?

Or

Do they just put these things on as a Tourists spectacle?

My perception is that it is very much a local celebration, as to Carnival. The one in Grand Case, probably more catered to tourists.

The locals do it for themselves. I’m Haitian American and the stories of those Mardi Gras are insane!

They each (Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc) give in their unique flavor of their respective cultures. I’ve seen true Mardi Gras celebrated on St Maarten twice in 19 years. The first one was over a decade ago when we happened to be on backstreet near the old Heineken plane restaurant. We just got caught up in it and watched to go by over 20 minutes and it seemed to traverse a decent amount of streets. It was wild!

Then maybe three or four years ago, we knew it was gonna be going through Marigot and my brother flew in from Miami to watch it with us. It’s the closest we can come to feeling like we are in Port au Prince without getting killed. Again, it’s a real true celebration of local culture not geared towards tourists. We just happen to be in the way. 😂

The Grand Case MG that Carol was talking about is totally touristy.

Wow, that is some good insight on SXM the other islands and Haiti. I went to Cap Haitien in July 1979 and so glad I did. Citadelle Laferriere 14 mile round trip donkey ride up the mountain. Hard to believe 46 years ago.

I have never been to Mardi Gras except for the celebration in Grand Case. I love parades! Hubby loves the skimpy costumes, of course.