Carnival Day is a public holiday in Sint Maarten on April 30 yearly. The Carnival Festival celebrations span 18 days from the middle of April to April 30, however, only April 30 is a public holiday.
Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. Indigenous people inhabited the island for centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived on his second voyage in 1493. The Spanish captured the island in 1633 but abandoned it in 1648 due to the lack of economic and strategic value.
The Dutch and the French partitioned the island in 1648 and established settlements after the Spanish left. The border was changed many times until 1815 when the French took 61% of the island while the Dutch took 39%.
Carnival Day in Sint Maarten first started in 1969, and it is the longest carnival season in the region. Over the years, it has grown in popularity for people of all different races and cultural backgrounds. Parades, dancing, concerts, and many other events will be held during the festival.
Carnival Day was first celebrated in Sint Maarten on November 11 commemorating when Christopher Columbus first discovered the island. However, the date changed to April 30 celebrating the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands, who was born on April 30, 1909.
The following is the list of Carnival Day in Sint Maarten from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Day | Apr 30, 2022 | Saturday |
| Carnival Day | Apr 30, 2023 | Sunday |
| Carnival Day | Apr 30, 2024 | Tuesday |
| Carnival Day | Apr 30, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Carnival Day | Apr 30, 2026 | Thursday |
Please check more public holidays in Sint Maarten: