Beat the winter blues and escape to sunny Grenada in 2010!
January 20, 2010. (St. George’s, Grenada, WI) – Leave the cold behind this winter and head to Grenada, where an exciting line-up of events ensures that it will be a holiday to remember. Visitors will be met with a unique mix of cultural events, holidays, festivals and sports, leaving them counting down the days until they can plan their next trip! The following will take place in Grenada this winter and early spring:
40th Annual Spiceisle Billfish Tournament (January 25 – 31, 2010): This week long event takes place on an annual basis at the end of January and consists of three days of fishing and four days of fun filled activities. The tournament provides the opportunity to experience fishing in some of the Caribbean’s best game fishing waters and operates under a catch and release system. This year will be a big one for the Spiceisle Billfish Tournament as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. For more details on the tournament, visit www.sibtgrenada.com
The Grenada Sailing Festival (January 29 – February 2, 2010): Sailing enthusiasts from around the globe arrive in Grenada for this world famous event. The festival will begin with the Port Louis Racing Series, four days of sailing, based out of the Port Louis Marina on Grenada’s southern coast. International keelboats from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe compete alongside those from Grenada and the Caribbean.
The fun continues the following weekend with the Digicel Independence Workboat Regatta (February 6 – 7, 2010): Based on Grand Anse Beach, the event is a part of Grenada’s Independence celebrations and includes competitive sailing, cultural song and dance, and traditional musical performances, etc. For more information on the Grenada Sailing Festival, visit www.grenadasailingfestival.com
36th Anniversary of Grenada’s Independence (February 7, 2010): This year marks Grenada’s 36th year of Independence from the British monarchy. Each year the holiday is celebrated with national ceremonies, parades, etc. As this is a public holiday all banks and the majority of shops are closed for the day. In Toronto the celebration will be marked with a flag raising ceremony on February 5th – 12 noon at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square and a celebratory evening dinner and dance.
Carriacou Carnival (February 15 – 16, 2010): This lively celebration of Caribbean culture is traditionally held the weekend before the start of Christian Lent. Calypso competitions and a parade of brightly costumed masqueraders make this a very exciting weekend to visit Carriacou.
South Grenada Regatta (February 26 – 28, 2010): The South Grenada Regatta is a three-day event and is fun for the whole family. Junior races are held on Saturday and Sunday consists of events for all ages – the day is filled with a BBQ, beach party, and pirate trail, along with dinghy races! To learn more about the South Grenada Regatta, visit www.southgrenadaregatta.com
Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta (March 4 – 7, 2010): The race will be held over three days and takes place on Grenada’s south-eastern coast between St. David’s Harbour and Petite Calivigny. After racing parties provide the perfect opportunity to experience Grenada’s famous hospitality. International blues artist ‘Janus’ will be performing.
Eighth Annual Grenada Round-the-Island Race (March 12 – 14, 2010): Hosted by the Grenada South Coast Yacht Club, the annual race will be taking place on Grand Anse Beach. This family friendly event will also feature a lively youth sailing event, bathtub derby, beach games, along with local cuisine and live entertainment. For more information, visit www.aroundgrenada.com
Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival (April 22 – 25, 2010): Established in 2001, this three-day event is focused on preserving the island’s unique culture. This distinct festival allows visitors to witness the practice of a ‘maroon’ – during a ‘maroon’ gratitude is expressed for the last harvest, as prayers are offered for the next planting season. A string band competition is also a part of this memorable festival.
Awards
The Spice Island Beach Resort was recently awarded the prestigious Green Globe Certification for the significant steps that they have taken at going green. For instance, the environmentally friendly property uses solar rooftop water heaters for all hot water and purchases locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables. These are just a couple of the many methods that this organization has been using to help sustain the environment. Sir. Royston O. Hopkin, KCMG and Spice Island Beach Resort’s owner and chairman also received the globally recognized Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences for ‘Outstanding Leadership In Environmental Conservation And Sustainable Tourism’.
About Grenada Board of Tourism The Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) was formed in 1991 to market and promote Grenada as a preferred Caribbean tourist destination, while also providing technical and managerial support to industry partners. For more information on Grenada contact the Grenada Board of Tourism office in Toronto at 416-595-1339, e-mail at tourism@grenadaconsulate.com or visit www.grenadagrenadines.com
How to Get to Grenada Grenada can be reached via Air Canada Vacations that operates a seasonal direct flight from Toronto to Grenada (11 resorts, Sunday departure with easy connections from major Canadian gateways, and bookings for the 2009/10 season available at www.aircanadavacations.com ) from December 20, 2009 to April 2010. AC operates daily flights from Toronto to Barbados (Saturday & Sunday departure from Montreal) with connections on LIAT to Grenada and Caribbean Airlines operate regularly scheduled flights from Toronto to Barbados and Trinidad with connections on LIAT to Grenada. GG Tours and Titan Tours operate seasonal charter services (www.ggtours.ca and www.titantours.com ). West Jet operates a flight from Toronto to Barbados with connections on LIAT to Grenada from November onwards. American Airlines operates a non-stop flight three times per week from Miami to Grenada from November onwards.