These are the upcoming events and specials you should be aware of in Grenada and the Grenadines.

Held during the last week of January, the Spiceisle Billfish Tournament gives anglers the opportunity to catch a piece of the action in some of the Caribbean's best game fish waters. In 2008, the Spiceisle Billfish Tournament celebrates its 39th anniversary with 3 days of fishing and 4 days of fun-filled activities from January 16 to 19.

The Grenada Sailing Festival attracts sailing enthusiasts from all over the world, and features four days of races and regattas and a day-long craft market and cultural street festival. A wonderful event to watch!

Carnival celebrations in Carriacou are held from the weekend before the start of the Christian Lenten period. In the tradition of Caribbean Carnivals, these celebrations include calypso competitions and the parade of brightly costumed masqueraders through the streets of the main villages.

Unique to Carriacou Carnival is the Shakespeare Mas, in which brightly dressed Peirrots engage in a battle of wits using only lines from Shakespearean plays. The competitor without a quick reply earns a playful stroke from his opponent's stick.

On February 7th 1974, Grenada declared its independence from the British and adopted a modified Westminster parliamentary system based on the British model, with a governor general appointed by and representing the British monarch (head of state) and a prime minister who is both leader of the majority party and the head of government.

Each year on February 7th, Grenadians celebrate the anniversary of their independence, with national ceremonies and parades featuring the Royal Grenada Police Force, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and various schools. The day is a public holiday, when banks and most shops are closed.

In 2008, West Indies Events will host the first annual Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta, with 3 days of racing and entertainment. What promises to be a spectacular event.

Each year, Grenada's northern parish of St. Patrick celebrates the feast of St. Patrick with a week of activities centered around the March 17th, the official Feast Day of St. Patrick.

Events include exhibitions of local arts and craft, agricultural produce, food, drinks and cultural extravaganzas.

From the completion of the opening of the channel into St. George’s Lagoon in 1960, Grenada saw a growing number of pleasure boats anchoring in the yacht basin. On January 5th of 1969 The Grenada Yacht club held its first annual Tall Yachts Race with 18 boats entering making it one of the finest spectacles beheld in the Caribbean at that time.

The following year brought a steady steam of yachts of all sizes arriving in the basin all with the common goal, to take part in the second annual, now called, Round Grenada Race. Under the auspices of the West Indies Yachting Association, on January 4th 1970, The Grenada Yacht Club hosted the event with 33 entries exceeding all expectations.

1991 saw the last of the Round the Island Race in Grenada until just recently when a whole new generation of young enthusiastic sailors decided a revival was most necessary and are working to breathe new air into the tradition.

Launched in 2001, the Carriacou Maroon Music Festival provides a scintillating 3 day display of Big Drum Nation Dance, String Band Music and Quadrille Dancing at the Belair Park in Carriacou.

Sample the maroon food of rolled rice and coo coo, with stewed peas, provisions and your choice of chicken, mutton or pork, all cooked in large iron pots on open fires. Then experience the nightly shows with Big Drum Nationa Dance, String Band Music, Shakespeare Mas, Quadrille and African Dances, blended with a touch of Calypso, Reggae, Soul and Blues.

Every year Grenada's fishing villages commemorate the June 29th feast day of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Known locally as Fisherman's Birthday Celebrations, the event begins with Church services and the blessing of boats and nets, followed by boat races, fishing displays and late evening parties.

The historic town of Gouyave, in the northwest parish of St John, is the main venue for these activities, which in recent years have grown to include community sporting and cultural events during a week long celebrations leading up to June 29th.

The Carriacou Regatta began in 1965 as a local boat race using the traditional fishing workboats, to continue the indigenous art of Boat Building handed down by Irish and Scottish Ancestors.

Since that time, it has evolved into a major Caribbean event, held over the Emancipation holiday weekend, with keen competition among sailors from many of the neighbouring islands - Grenada, Tobago, Martinique, Antigua and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Visitors and locals alike admire the skill and captaincy of some of the region's boatmen, as they jostle for supremacy in the different classes of boats, ranging from 14 to 35 feet in length.

In 2008, the Carriacou Regatta Festival celebrates its 43rd anniversary from August 1 to 4, with festival highlights including Miss Aquaval Queen Show, Miss Wet T-Shirt, Donkey Racing, Greasy Pole and numerous cultural and sporting events.

Emancipation Day is a public holiday celebrating the abolition of slavery. Although officially acknowledged worldwide as August 1st, in Grenada Emancipation Day is celebrated on the first Monday of August, with Cultural activities planned for both Grenada and Carriacou.

Carnival celebrations in Grenada are held during the second week in August, just one week after Emancipation Day festivities.

From dawn on Carnival Monday, the streets of Grenada's towns are filled with traditional masqueraders depicting Devils (Jab-Jabs) and social commentaries of the highlights of the past year (Ole Mas). Spectators and masqueraders alike dance to the sounds of steelbands and DJs playing the latest carnival melodies.

On Monday afternoon the fancy or pretty bands appear briefly on the streets as they make their way to the big stage where competition is fierce in the fight for Band of the Year.

The street party continues on in the evening as the Monday Night Mas bands make their way thorugh the streets from 8 pm onwards dancing and waving brightly coloured lights.

Carnival Monday is a public holiday, when banks and most shops will be closed. In 2008, Grenada celebrates Carnival Monday on August 11.

Carnival celebrations in Grenada are held during the second week in August, just one week after Emancipation Day festivities.

On Carnival Tuesday the fancy or pretty bands parade through the streets, with spectators and masqueraders alike dancing to the sounds of steelbands and DJs playing the latest carnival melodies. The party continues late inot the evening until midnight when the official celebrations end.

Carnival Tuesday is a public holiday, when banks and most shops will be closed. In 2008, Grenada celebrates Carnival Tuesday on August 12.

The Grenada Classics is a great opportunity to meet and socialise in a beautiful environment with many of the great characters of test cricket played in recent times between England and the West Indies.

Enjoy a delightful weekend rubbing shoulders with many of the cricketing legends of recent test cricket. Spend time in the company of characters such as Allan Lamb, John Emburey, Viv Richards, and many more, on the beautiful island of Grenada. Attend the Classics parties and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Classics match - sit back and relax and be part of the festival atmosphere and lime with 4,000 Grenadians.

After the games sail north to visit Carriacou, Petit Martinique and Mopion island. Experience the delights of sailing the Caribbean sea on a well appointed and prepared yacht from the fleet with Horizon Yacht Charters.

An inclusive package for the Cricket Weekend and Yacht Charter can be arranged. Click here to find out more

Thanksgiving in Grenada is a public holiday commemorating the anniversary of the 1983 Caribbean and American military intervention in Grenada. On Oct 25th, a joint military force landed in Grenada to restore order to the country following the deaths of then Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and a number of his colleagues.

Today, more than 20 years after the event, Grenada remains a peaceful society, welcoming visitors from North America and Europe on a daily basis.

The 31st Annual Carriacou Parang Festival season climaxes on the weekend of Friday 19 - Sunday 21 December 2008.

Festivities begin on Friday with a free open-air concert in the streets of Hillsborough featuring carol singing, cultural presentations and parang string bands, followed by house to house ""paranging"" all night.

On Saturday night enjoy live performances from entertainers from around the world.

On Sunday organized parang groups from villages throughout Carriacou, Grenada and Petite Martinique compete for the chalenge trophy and cash prizes, performing a compulsory Christmas Carol and their selected piece.

Traditional Carriacou celebration dances such as the Quadrille and Big Drum will also spice up the night.

Christmas Day in Grenada is marked by religious celebrations and an increased generousity of spirit wihtin the local population. Christmas traditions include the display of Nativity scenes and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Santa Claus at children's parties during the festive season.

Christian churches celebrate with midnight services on Dec 24, and for many Grenadians, Christmas day is spent with friends and family, eating traditional foods and recounting stories of yesteryear.

Many shops open late into the evening on Christmas Eve (Dec 24), while several restaurants will offer special Christmas Day menus for both lunch and dinner.

Both Christmas and Boxing Days (Dec 25 & 26) are public holidays in Grenada, when banks and most shops will be closed.

December 26 the day after Christmas Day is celebrated in Grenada as Boxing Day.

While no ceremonial vestiges of this traditional British holiday remain, the day is an official public holiday and is used by many to continue visiting friends and family in the spirit of the Christmas season.

The first day of the new year is celebrated by many with traditional religious services.

On the last day of the year, many hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, hold gala balls and parties, with special dinner menus, live entertainment and fireworks to welcome the New Year. Events are designed with something for everyone ... from the young to the young at heart.