The biggest parties on the island are the two carnivals , held on French St Martin over Lent and on the Dutch side in late April and early May, with the main bash normally on April 30, Queen Juliana's birthday. The Dutch affair is easily the bigger of the two, with plenty of colourful and noisy parades and live music every night, from local calypsonians to international stars like Trinidad's Mighty Sparrow and Antigua's David Rudder, as carnival gears up to its grand finale.

The following public holidays are celebrated on both St Martin and St Marteen. We've also listed distinct holidays that each island celebrates.

January 1 New Year's Day

Good Friday

Easter Monday

May 1 Labour Day

Whit Monday

Dec 25 Christmas Day

Dec 26 Boxing Day