For a week in late January through early
February, the island holds the Curacao
Carnival Tumba Festival, which is sort of
a preamble to Carnival. The winning turn
ba will be the official Carnival March song.
Contact the Festival Center,
tel. (599-9) 737-6368.

Later in February, Curacao celebrates its
pre-Lenten Carnival, eight days (with weeks
of pre- Carnival activities) of nonstop music
and partying, including a Children’s Carnival
Parade, the traditional midnight “Ban Topa”
Otrobanda, the Grand Carnival Parade,
Carnival Monday (an official holiday), and the
Farewell Grand Parade.
The schedule and dates vary year to year;
contact the Festival Center, tel.
(599-9) 737-6368, for information.

March is the month the International
Blue Marlin Tournarnent is held, tel.
(599-9) 767-2588.In addition to April’s
Easter festivities, Curacao hosts an
Easter Folkloric Parade, a festival
during the first week of the month
featuring music and dance performances
from local folk groups. Contact the
Department of Culture, tel.
(599-9) 461-3900. On 30 April,
the island celebrates Queen Beatrix’s
Birthday with a day off for most everyone,
plus some official functions.

On 1 May, the official holiday Labor Day
is celebrated. Also in May is the annual
KLM Jazz Festival, a week of jazz
performances from international and local
musicians. For’ information, contact the
Cura~ao Jazz Foundation, tel. (599-9)
465-8043. Another May music festival
is the Latin-spiced Merengue Festival,
tel. (599-9) 737-6343.

On 2 July is the official holiday Curacao
Flag Day, with parades, games, and
cultural events in Willemstad and around
the island. August brings more music with
the Salsa Festival, which includes
performances by international salsa
meisters; call (599-9) 737-6343 for
information.

In early October is more jazz with the
Curacao Jazz Festival. Downtown also hosts
a late-month Oktoberfest, tel. (599-9) 461-8244.
In addition, Curacaons celebrate Christmas,
New Year’s Day, and Easter

January

13 Official Opening 2001 Carnaval Season
21 Entries For Tumba King Contest
29-31 Tumba King Contest preliminary days.

February
2 Tumba King Contest Final Night
4 Youth Tumba King Contest
5-12 Curacao International Sailing Regatta
11 Horse Parade
16 Carnaval King & Queen election
18 Children’s Carnaval Parade
23 Teeners Parade
24 Banda Abou Parade (countryside parade)
25 2001 Grand Carnaval Parade
26 Children’s Farewell Parade
27 Farewell Parade.

March
15-18 International Blue Marlin Tournament.
Participate and you have a chance to
win a B.M.W. 520series Click here for more
details.
31 Election of the Seu Queen (Harvest Queen)

April
12-15 International Open Tennis Tournament
(Contact Kenneth Hennep 5999-560-1835
13 Good Friday Official Holiday
15 Eastern Sunday
15 Eastern Parade
16 Easter Monday.
Seu (Harvest) Parade in the street of Otrabanda.
22-29 Jewish Commemoration week.
For more information please visit their website at http://www.snoa.com/350
30 Queens Birthday. National Holiday.
30-1 Sami Sail. Traditional two-day regatta organized by the picturesque fishing village of Boka Sami. Enjoy local food, live music and lots of fun.
30 International food, beverage and cultural festivals.
29-1 International Drag Racing Completion. Racing cars form Aruba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Curacao race in different categories raging from bracket to pro stock.

May
1 Labor Day (Official Holiay)
25-27 The 14th Annual Curacao Jazz Festival. A three day jazz extravaganza organized by the Curacao Jazz Foundation, and drawing top international performance as well as local talents. For more details please click here.

June
3 Open Monument Day.
Contact the monument foundation.
(5999-465-7549)
17 Fathers Day

July
2 Curacao Flag Day. (official holiday)
1-2 International Drag Racing Completion.
Racing cars form Aruba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Curacao race in different categories raging from bracket to pro stock.
2 International Juvenile hand cart parade.
26 Curacao Day.

August
17 Commemoration Slave Uprising 1795. Cultural events will be held at Landhouse Knip and at Rif monument.
31-1 Annual Curacao Salsa Festival. With performance of Cuco Valoy, Puerto Rican Power, Jose Alberto “El Canario” and much more. For more information please contact ctdbcur@attglobal.net

September
1 Clean up month
8 Miss teenage beauty pegeant contest.
For information please call CYBECO at 5999-432-0251
24-30 Tourism week. Please contact the Curacao Tourist Board at ctdbcur@attglobal.net

October
01 Banda Bou Day:Habitant of the neighborhood of Banda Bou on the scenic west coast will celebrate the day of Banda Bou. With a lot of activities, music, folkloric shows, vendors selling typical food and drink. Everyone joins in the festivities. Contact Mr. Rudy Rooij tel 461-2777 5-7 Drag Races October Clash: The track is located in Rondeklip on the north side of the island. Contact Mrs. Debbie Cordero tel 561-8977
12 Official Opening of the 1st Cura?ao Mixculture Folkloric Parade: Overall presentation of different ethnic groups
that form part of our community, combined with music, food and dance. Contact Cura?ao Tourism Development Bureau
tel (599-9) 461-6000
13 1st Cura?ao Mix culture ?Workshop?: Exposition, History, music workshop, workshop on the style of cooking, dancing, dress and folklore of the different ethnic group of the community. Contact Cura?ao Tourism Development Bureau tel (599-9) 461-6000
14 1st Cura?ao Mixculture Parade: Parade through the street of Punda symbolizing the ?Union of the different culture on the Island? featuring all the ethnic folkloric groups on the island. Contact Cura?ao Tourism Development Bureau tel (599-9) 461-6000
15 Miss Curacao
21 Antillean Day: Official Holiday. A celebration of the unity of the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles.

November
06 Caribbean Tourism Day
20 Half Marathon and 10 km Run: The Road
Runners Club of Cura?ao is sponsoring this exciting new event. A marathon, ? marathon and a 10 km run are open to all. For more information contact the Road Runners Club of Cura?ao tel 868-2317
22/23 The annual International choir festival
25 Dutch Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) sails into St. Anna Bay: This legendary Dutch patriarch sails into St. Anna Bay, supposedly from Spain, with his white horse and entourage of helpers, all named Zwarte Piet (globin). Families gather in Otrobanda where a festival atmosphere prevails. Contact Mrs. Poppy Cratz at Cura?ao Parades and festival foundation (599-9) 666-6712

December
05 St. Nicholas Day: On St. Nicholas Eve all children put out a bucket of water and a shoe filled with hay for St. Nicholas big white horse. If they have been good all year, they will wake to find their shoes filled with gifts. Those who haven?t are afraid a globin called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) will carry them back to Spain in a sack.
25/26 Christmas Day (Official Holiday): Two and a half days of family oriented festivities officially begin at noon on Christmas Eve. Catholic churches hold midnight mass
31 New Year?s Eve: Official Holiday (Half-day). Local businesses and organizations set off fireworks displays in friendly competitions, building to a crescendo at midnight. Locals gather at Plaza Brion were an evening of cultural activities is capped by midnight blessing by the Bishop. Contact Dept of culture (599-9) 461-3900