The main public holidays celebrated throughout the Caribbean, during which virtually all shops and offices close, are:

January 1 New Year's Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

May 1 Labour Day

Whit Monday

Dec 25 Christmas Day

Dec 26 Boxing Day

St Vincent and the Grenadines also celebrate National Heroes' Day on March 14, Caricom Day on the second Monday in July, August Monday on the first Monday in August and Independence Day on October 27.

The following are a selection of the major festivals on the islands. St Vincent's Carnival , known as Vincy Mas, is usually held on the second Tuesday of July, although festivities begin at the end of June. Like other carnivals, Vincy Mas brings the whole island onto the streets to party with parades, vibrant costumes and calypso and steel-band music. At the end of January there is also a Blues Festival that attracts international entertainers. Bequia hosts an Easter Regatta , while Union Island annually celebrates Easterva l, a three-day festival of boat races, sports games and calypso music. Canouan's Regatta occurs at the end of May. The annual Mustique Blues Festival , which confusingly hosts events on both Bequia and St Vincent as well as Mustique, attracts top-name international acts during the end of January and beginning of February.