Tobago Month by Month
Each village takes a turn to host it's thanksgiving Harvest Festival on a specific weekend throughout the year. Harvest observation includes Church ceremonies, followed by massive cookouts and hospitality at homes in the village on the Sunday. There is a general air of welcome when all comers are fed.
The biggest harvest festivals (i.e. expect very heavy traffic and roads to be bottlenecked) are at Mt.St. George - on the first Sunday in March Delaford - on the last Sunday in May and Charlotteville - on the last Sunday in June.
It's January - For visitors it is the "Winter season" of escaping from the cold north. Expect sunny skies and very blue seas ... but also windy conditions and choppy seas a spin off when there is bad weather up north!
The nature calendar shows - Hummingbirds are plentiful and on Little Tobago Island the Red billed Tropicbirds can be readily seen. Migratory birds from the cold north are on their journey south.
Carnival activities at various Carnival activities at various venues...Steelbands are practicing the season's new releases in preparation for the annual Panorama competition held at their panyards- Dates are announced near Carnival. The steelband competition finals are held at Shaw Park usually two weeks before Carnival. Calypso shows are held at Shaw Park,(now being rebuilt) with most "Calypso tents" from Trinidad coming across to hold special performances in Tobago.
It's February - Good weather continues, with the seas again changeable when there is bad weather up north. Sunsets and moonlit nights are simply wonderful.
Bird life is prolific, humming birds, Redbilled Tropic birds, migratory sea birds, falcons, and Magnificent frigate birds and dozens of other species.
Carnival - Tobago style, is much quieter and smaller than the massive Trinidad show but well worth seeing and enjoying. Main venue is on the streets of Scarborough (also Roxborough) beginning just before daybreak on Carnival Monday with "jouvay" and culminating on Carnival Tuesday with the costumed bands dancing in the streets around Market Square, the Lower Milford Road etc. Steelbands and DJ music systems are on he street, plus lots of roadside vendors selling food and drinks. Both days are virtual holidays for business places.
It's March - Good weather continues. Birding conditions continue to be very favourable - migratory North American birds are flying south; Redbilled Tropic birds and many other species easily seen on Little Tobago island.
March 1st is the start of the Closed Season for hunting - lasting until September 30th. No hunting, eating or possession of protected wildlife species including birds, is allowed. Near the end of the month marks the start of the nesting season for the endangered and protected Giant Leatherback Turtles which come ashore to the place of their birth, to dig their nests and lay their eggs. Laying season lasts 4 months until June. The turtles can be seen at several easily accessed beaches like Grafton, Turtle Beach also Englishman's Bay.
The Mt. St. George harvest festival is on the 1st Sunday of the month.
It's a good time for game fishing. The International Game fishing tournament is held in Charlotteville. See details in our Outdoors Tobago page and Visit www.TGFT.com
Easter - A very special time for Tobago... the Goat and crab racing season with the prime venue being the Buccoo recreation grounds on Easter "Tuesday" - which is a virtual holiday in Tobago. Mt. Pleasant has developed a side event on Easter Monday including goat racing during a day of fun held at the Mt.Pleasant playground.
It's April - Many flowering tree species are in full riotous blossom in the countryside - the scenery is spectacular and highly colourful.... poui trees, immortelle, african tulip plus home gardens with bougainvillea among many others. Birdlife is still prolific - hummingbirds, Tropicbirds, Frigate birds, migratory sea birds, falcons and more.
The Closed Season for hunting continues - no hunting allowed. The good weather and good sea conditions continue. Great conditions for snorkeling and diving. Giant Leatherback turtle nesting continues at specific beaches.
Sporting events include track and field and athletics at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough. Cycling events include road races which attract international cyclists.Visit here for more.
Jazz Festival - making waves since 2005. Held in April at various venues across the island. Previous perfomers included Super stars Elton John, Diana Ross, Sting, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle and the patron Stevie Wonder... leading reggae and calypso stars complete the line up.
It's May - Another beautiful month (arguably the most beautiful one in Tobago) with blue skies, calm beautiful seas, abundant flowering trees and plants island wide. The Giant Leatherback turtles continue to nest and are protected along with other wildlife species - the Closed Season for hunting is in it's third month. Among the best time of year for a chance to see the Manta rays in the Speyside area and conditions for snorkeling and diving are particularly good. It is Angostura Tobago Sail week in early May. For more details see our Outdoor Tobago page for specifics.
The Delaford Harvest Festival is on the last Sunday of the month. This Traffic jam is notoriously bad especially at the narrow pass outside the RC Church... allow a lot of time if travelling to the airport from Speyside or Charlotteville!
It's June - Expect the start of the rainy season, with showers of rain in between blue skies and good sea conditions. The Closed Season for Hunting of protected species continues. Giant Leatherback turtles continue nesting on selected beaches around the island. Another good month for seeing the Manta Rays off Speyside and for snorkelling and diving island wide.
The last weekend of the month is St.Peter's Day with the Charlotteville Fishermen's Festival hosted by the Village council. Expect heavy traffic, heavy music, heavy drinking all weekend long. Traffic on the roads is extremely heavy and parking virtually non existent. Many people choose to journey there by boat instead of car.
It's July - The rainy season becomes more entrenched but there will still be many sunny clear days and good seas.
The nesting season for the Giant Leatherback Turtles draws to and end and the hatchlings begin to emerge.
The Closed Season ban on hunting of protected species, animals and birds, continues.
Yet another great month for snorkeling and diving at the many off shore reefs.
The Tobago Games are held - a programme of athletic events hosted by the House of Assembly at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
The highlight of the month and the cultural highlight of the year for Tobago - The Tobago Heritage Festival is held during the last two weeks of the month.
"Heritage" is a popular and well-developed celebration of Tobago's turbulent past with various villages taking turn to host/perform something from their history. The most celebrated activities are the Old Time Tobago wedding at Moriah; the Black Rock boat christening; and Folk tales and Superstitions at Les Couteaux.
It's August - There will be many rainy days amidst the sunny ones, yet the seas continue to be good for swimming.
Giant Leatherback Turtle babies are hatching on the various beaches where eggs were laid in earlier months. The ban on hunting and possession of protected species continues in force - it is the Closed Season.
August 1st is Emancipation Day commemorating the end of slavery of which Tobago had a long and brutal share.
The "Great Fete weekend" is a giant beach party lasting all weekend long held at Store Bay.
The Carib Great Race takes place at the end of August - an annual power boat race from Tobago to Trinidad which finishes at Store Bay beach. Visit the website www.ttpba.com for information.
Expect from very early in the morning a youthful and wildly crowded beach, lots of heavy music, drinking and dense traffic, all weekend long.
August 31st - Annual celebrations to mark Trinidad and Tobago's Independence, with military parades at various venues, and a great fireworks display in Scarborough at 730pm ... any venue along the coast with a view across to the port is good.
It's September - The rainy season is in full swing but there will still be some blue skies and good seas for swimming.
Leatherback turtle hatching continues. This is the last month in the closed season (No Hunting or possession of wildlife allowed)
The Tobago International Cycling Classic - a road race island wide with international competitors - is held over 4 days in the middle of the month.
Tobago Fest - an effort to have a Trinidad-type Carnival mixed with Heritage activities is held in late September at various locations.
It's October - There can be very rainy days, but it's never cold and the seas are swimmable as always.
The Blue Food Festival at L'Anse Fourmi - offers entertainment and cooking skills using local resources. It is held at the L'Anse Fourmi/Bloody Bay recreation ground in late October
It's November - Expect rain!! This is the rainiest month of the year in Tobago. For visitors it's a good idea to plan alternate activities that do not depend on sunshine! There will be some sun and some blue skies ... just don't depend on it.
It's December - The skies clear up and the sunshine returns. Sea conditions start being affected by northern winter and can be rough and choppy, even while being blue.
Children in villages make and fly all sorts of kites and Tobago Flying Colours - the annual Kite flying festival - is held at Plymouth Recreation grounds between Christmas and New Year's day.