As if you needed a reason to visit the Caribbean jewel of St Lucia!  Maybe the upcoming St Lucia jazz Festival could be it…..

Running from the 1st to the 10th of May, the main event is hosted at Pigeon Island National Park.  Apart from hosting the annual St Lucia jazz festival, Pigeon Island itself boasts a number of historical sites and two secluded beaches.   Guest artistes headlining this year include Amy Winehouse, the Original Wailers, Chicago, Patti La belle and George Duke.   However, it’s the free daytime entertainment that has grown in popularity and this “Free Fringe” now rivals the main event.

“Jazz on the Square” at The Derek Walcott Square is a series of lunch time concerts in the heart of Castries City in the picturesque square named after  Derek Walcott, the island’s Nobel Laureate in Literature.  “Jazz on the Pier” is held at Pointe Seraphine, St Lucia’s biggest duty free shopping complex, and “Tea Time Jazz” at La Place Carenage is the ideal follow-up to Lunch Time Jazz on the Square.

“Fond D’Or Jazz” at Fond D’Or Heritage Park offers a breathtaking view, the cool breeze of the Caribbean Sea and the soothing sounds of local jazz music.   “Jazz in the South” at Rudy John Beach started out as a small community event that quickly became one of the main attractions in the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival.  “Jazz on the Beach” at Reduit Beach is the most recent event in festival, overlooking Rodney Bay within earshot of Pigeon Island.  “Soufriere Jazz” hosts a variety of shows at various locations around the town including Sulphur Springs Jazz at the world’s only drive-in-Volcano!