Saint Lucia Like a Local: Where Saint Lucians Spend Their Time

Most guides to Saint Lucia focus on resorts and the Pitons. This one covers the places and events where you will find Saint Lucians themselves: weekly street food nights, markets, festivals and the small habits that make the island what it is.

Friday night in Gros Islet

The Gros Islet street party, often called the "jump up", happens every Friday night in the fishing village next to Rodney Bay. Streets close to traffic, stalls grill fish, lobster, chicken and pork, and sound systems play soca, dancehall and zouk. Locals arrive later than visitors, usually after 10pm. Bring small bills in XCD, keep your phone in your pocket, and take a licensed taxi back if you are not walking.

Anse La Raye fish fry

On Friday evenings the village of Anse La Raye, on the west coast between Marigot Bay and Soufrière, holds a quieter seafood night. Families cook fresh fish, lobster, crab and bakes at stalls along the waterfront. It is smaller and calmer than Gros Islet and a good choice if you want to eat and talk rather than dance.

Dennery on Saturday

On the east coast, the fishing town of Dennery hosts a Saturday night street event often called the Dennery Segment, with grilled seafood and live music. Few visitors make it this far, so it feels very local.

Castries Market on Saturday morning

Saturday morning is when Castries Market is at its busiest. Farmers come in from across the island with bananas, breadfruit, dasheen, mangoes and whatever is in season. Inside you will find spices, cocoa sticks for cocoa tea, local honey, hot pepper sauce and crafts. Ask vendors what things are and how they cook them. Most are happy to explain.

Festivals through the year

• Saint Lucia Carnival, July. Two days of costumed bands parading through Castries, with fetes in the weeks before.
• La Rosé (30 August) and La Maguérite (17 October). Two flower festivals with roots in old rival societies, celebrated with song, dance and traditional dress.
• Jounen Kwéyòl, the last Sunday in October. Creole Day. Communities across the island cook traditional food, and people wear the national dress, the madras. It is one of the best days to try local dishes.
• Saint Lucia Day, 13 December. The national day, with events and a festival of lights in Castries.

Food Saint Lucians eat at home

At home you are more likely to find bouyon, green fig and saltfish, stewed chicken with provisions, bakes and saltfish for breakfast, and fresh juice made from passion fruit, soursop or sorrel at Christmas. For a snack, look for accra (saltfish fritters) and cassava bread from roadside bakers. The local beer is Piton, and the rum comes from St. Lucia Distillers in Roseau, which offers tours.

Sundays

Sunday is a family day. Many shops close, church is busy in the morning, and in the afternoon families go to the beach with coolers and music. It is a good day to see a more relaxed side of the island.

Cricket

Cricket is followed closely here. When the West Indies or a Caribbean Premier League team plays at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Gros Islet, the stadium is loud and lively. Check the fixtures if your stay overlaps with a match.

A few words of Kwéyòl

• Bonjou: good morning
• Bonswa: good evening
• Sa ka fèt?: how are you?
• Mési: thank you

Using even one of these will usually get a smile. Our team is from Saint Lucia and is always glad to point guests to local events happening during their stay.