As Saint Lucia Carnival continues to grow in popularity across the Caribbean, Dominicans who recently experienced the 2025 festivities have offered favourable insights, while drawing sharp contrasts with their country’s own carnival traditions.
Many attendees pointed to Carnival Tuesday as a standout moment. Watsladia described it as her favourite part, saying, “probably because that’s when we were in a band. Shout out to Nexus, we had a time.” Similarly, Kernillia Adams found joy in “running mas with complete strangers” and appreciated the welcoming, home-like atmosphere.
Yet the differences were unmistakable. Attendees noted Saint Lucia’s carnival moves at a faster pace and leans into commercialisation, with higher costs for costumes and fetes that cater heavily to tourists and the diaspora.
Watsladia observed that the experience is “heavily marketed for visitors” and that entry and costume prices can be out of the reach of locals.
Meanwhile, Dominica’s carnival was praised for its raw cultural vibe, extended hours and affordability, with events often running late into the night.
Xuvo, one of the leading bands at Saint Lucia Carnival, stood out for many. Attendees admired its large scale and festive energy. One participant described the crowd around Xuvo as “like ants around sweets”, highlighting the band’s popularity.
Nexus Mas also received praise, especially from newcomers who appreciated the band’s energy and customer service despite some organisational challenges.
The fetes and parties throughout the carnival season also left lasting impressions. Events like Color Me Red, Viva La Carnival, Soak’t, Brazen and Indulgence were celebrated for their atmosphere, diverse music styles, and well-organised entertainment.
“Saint Lucians know how to fete from sundown to sun-up, no lie!” Marlon remarked. Waynesha emphasised the diverse music genres, noting that Saint Lucia offers everything from Dennery segment and dancehall to soca and bouyon, which added to the infectious vibe.
While traffic and logistics posed minor inconveniences for some, the overall sentiment was one of excitement and cultural appreciation. Attendees unanimously advised future carnival-goers to plan ahead, secure bands early, budget carefully and pace themselves during the multi-day festivities.
In the end, the takeaway was clear: Saint Lucia Carnival offers a dazzling, fast-paced counterpart to Dominica’s raw, homegrown revelry – proof that the Caribbean’s carnival spirit thrives in many flavours.
