St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a very rich culture, which includes unique festivities and sports.
In SVG the history of the country has produced a marvellous heritage of Amerindian strength of spirit, fused with European governance, to which we add African inventiveness, complemented by Asia’s resilient philosophy.
Much of our culture, as you might expect, is strongly linked to the sea, and to the boats which brought African slaves, Portuguese labourers, and French and British settlers, together with indigenous Caribs to give St. Vincent and the Grenadines its vibrant, multi-ethnic community, that is both proud and unified.
Food and drink in St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Virtually everything you eat in St. Vincent & the Grenadines will have been grown or reared locally. The furthest many ingredients will travel is from a small farm on St. Vincent to a plate at a restaurant on the Grenadine islands. The fish will have been pulled out of the waters surrounding the island by a local fisherman and sold straight to the chef just a couple of hours before it is cooked. Be sure to sample the National Dish comprising fried Jackfish and roasted breadfruit; and wash it all down with a cool Hairoun Beer or a Sunset rum.
Festivals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
The main festivals celebrated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines include: Nine Mornings (a unique tradition indigenous to St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and Vincy Mas, along with several regattas.
Sports
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has produced some great sports personalities over the years. Some notable ones are Pamenos Ballantyne (athletics); Adonal Folye, Sancho Lyttle, Sophia Young (basketball), Ian Allen, Cameron Cuffy, Winston Davis, Michael Findlay, Nixon McClean (cricket); Rodney Chang Jack (football). Other popular sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines are netball, rugby, swimming, squash, tennis and motor racing.
Key features on St. Vincent and the Grenadines sporting calendar are the annual hosting of international cricket matches between West Indies and other test and One-Day International playing nations. These matches are normally played at the Arnos Vale Cricket Ground, which was expanded to a first class sporting facility. This ground is also occasionally used to host international football matches and track & field events.