Two Carnival Traditions

One island, two Carnival structures

St. Martin does not have one island-wide Carnival administration. The southern tradition in Sint Maarten and the northern tradition in Saint-Martin have distinct organizers, calendars, and institutional histories.

The southern organizer publishes its own historical chronology, and Government of Sint Maarten reporting confirms recent editions. Northern reporting identifies FCDSM and documents planning for the northern season. These sources establish two active organizing structures, but they do not settle every founder, first-year, or continuity claim.

What the two traditions share

Both bring music, costume, performance, competition, food, and public gathering into the streets. Those broad forms are shared across Caribbean Carnival, but each St. Martin tradition has its own people, milestones, and memory. A complete archive names the bands, calypsonians, monarchs, queens, costume makers, musicians, organizers, villages, and businesses, with sources from the relevant side. This one is not there yet.

Plan with current information

Dates, routes, ticketing, village rules, road closures, and lineups change each year. Use the relevant organizer's dated announcement, and do not carry details from one jurisdiction into the other.

Attend with respect

Follow organizer guidance on costumes, photography, children, restricted areas, and performances. A public parade does not grant permission to reuse a person's image, costume design, music, or choreography commercially.