If you’re lucky enough to be vacationing in St Lucia, you may be wondering “what should I add to my St Lucia bucket list”? One thing you absolutely must do is go to the Gros Islet Street Party.
In case you have never heard of it, here is a little bit of background.
Formerly a sleepy fishing village, Gros Islet was changed from village status to town status in 1985.
Its reputation as the party capital of St Lucia has grown and grown. We don’t know when the street party began or why.
But, it has been going for long enough to have made this part of St Lucia famous and popular with locals and tourists alike.
All we know is that it is one of the most fun and authentic things you can do while in St Lucia!
The street party is also known as “Friday night Gros Islet jump up.” And, it is significant enough that a few blocks in Gros Islet have to be blocked off.
Here are some of the reasons why the Gros Islet street party should be at the top of your list while staying in St Lucia:
1. Eat Authentic Local Food
As you wander through the streets, your senses will be assailed by a gorgeous array of authentic St. Lucian foods, from barbecued meat and fish to conch and lobster.
There is a considerable number of vendors selling food along the street sides so that you can gorge on delicious food to your heart’s content.
The locals will have freshly caught all of these local delicacies and cooked according to their recipes. So you will be getting a real taste of St Lucia.
There is no better way to experience some real St. Lucian food than by trying the local dishes at the Gros Islet Street Party.
2. The Rum and Cocktails
If the odd alcoholic libation is your idea of a fun night (and let’s face it, who doesn’t like one glass or three of giggle-juice?), then you will be in your element at the jump up.
You will have the opportunity to sample a wide variety of local tipples, from beers and rums to exotic rum punches.
Piton beer, St. Lucia rum punch, St. Lucia spiced rum, whatever is your favorite kind of drink is, you may find it at the Gros Islet street party.
All the bars stay open late, meaning that you will have a chance to try all sorts of different drinks from different places.
Don’t like the decor in one bar? Move on to the next! If you want to bar hop in St. Lucia, you can do just that at the Gros Islet street party.
3. Dance to Caribbean Music
After a drink or two, what is better than to have a little dance? You can join the crowds of people doing just that. Shake your thing to a massive selection of local music performed by live local bands and DJs.
Dancing around in the warm evening, drink in hand, after a good St. Lucian meal, is one of the most beautiful feelings you’ll experience in St. Lucia’s nightlife. And you never know, you may discover a new favorite tune that you would never have found had it not been for the street party.
It’s a bit like being at a festival; the more you stick around, the more diverse and exciting Caribbean music you will discover. As with any party festival, you will see nothing but smiling faces, people dancing and having fun.
4. Meet and Mingle with the Locals
If you’re are after a real authentic St. Lucian party experience then look no further.
While it is true that the Gros Islet street party is popular with tourists, it is also loved by St. Lucians. Most St. Lucians will often arrive later in the evening. That’s how we are, late to the party.
The Gros Islet street party It is a great way to meet and talk to local people (and to compliment them on their food, local rum, and music, of course).
It’s also a great way to have a chat and get to know other foreign visitors and make new friendships that might last a lifetime.
5. it’s a real Genuine St. Lucian Experience
There is no better way to see a local town in all its finery than to experience what the locals are experiencing.
The jump up is a favorite of St Lucians, and you are sure to find a great many who will be happy to talk to you about St. Lucia. You can learn St. Lucia’s history, find out more about St. Lucian culture, or you can check out how a St. Lucian town is built.
It’s a perfect way to see intricate parts of St. Lucia that you might not ordinarily see, and experience life like a local.
How to get to the Gros Islet Street Party?
There are many ways that you can get to the Gros Islet street party.
You can make your way there under your own steam using public transportation or a taxi service. But, the easiest way is to get a pickup and drop off to and from your hotel by a reputable St. Lucia taxi service.
It’s an inexpensive and highly worthwhile thing to do!
Most St. Lucia tour operators will get you back to your hotel by midnight, but the party goes on until the wee hours of the morning.
So, if you are having too much fun to leave early then just opt for a later return (this will cost a little extra, but will be worth it to keep the fun going even longer)!
The only thing not included in the price of the journey is your food and drink – but that’s a small price to pay for the convenience of being transported to and from the party.
Add the Gros Islet street party to your St Lucia itinerary right away. Once you’ve experienced it, you will be pleased that you did!
The only downside might be that it goes down only on a Friday night and one visit might not be enough.
You’d have to extend your holiday by an extra week so you can go and have another chance to experience all the fun and authenticity that the Gros Islet Friday night jump up has to offer.
How awful that would be! Other than that, there is just nothing to regret about booking a trip to one of the most fun things to do in St Lucia’s nightlife.
Damian is a co-founder, editor, and author at Islanderkeys. He is also a dedicated father and husband. Damian is an IT Manager / Web developer by profession, but he loves to Blog and share his knowledge about St. Lucia in travel forums.
