2020 is going to be an eye-opening year for visitors to Anguilla. There is the annual ‘Moonsplash’ reggae festival, the month-long celebration of food and, of course, Anguilla’s well-stocked cultural calendar, which is brimming with events that elevate it to the top of the discerning traveller’s must-visit list.
With its tropical climate, powdery white beaches and azure waters, Anguilla undeniably makes for the ultimate Caribbean winter sun getaway. And with the island’s calendar packed with fascinating and characterful cultural, culinary and sports events in all seasons, there’s ample reason to visit all year round.
From the annual ‘Moonsplash’ reggae festival to a month full of culinary delights and another dedicated to wellness with plenty of public activities and discounts, discover the events that make Anguilla worth a visit in 2020.
12th – 15th March: 30th Annual Moonsplash Music Festival
Occurring on the weekend of the Full Moon in March, the Caribbean’s longest-running independent music festival returns in 2020 for its 30th year!
Hosted by reggae legend Bankie Banx at the beachside Dune Preserve bar and music venue on Rendezvous Bay, the four-day jam welcomes international musicians and music fans to one of the world’s best full-moon beach parties.
1st – 30th April – Extraordinary Eats
A vibrant month-long celebration of Anguilla’s rich food culture and culinary arts. Including the ‘Taste of the Strip’ food market, mixology and cookery classes talks at the Agriculture Farm, food experiences such as mango or salt picking, a ‘Bake Off’ competition, Chef’s Table menu tastings for both the public and private sector hosted by the Anguilla Tourism Board and special three-course ‘prix fixe’ menus.
The festival will conclude with a ‘grand finale’ dinner prepared by a selection of international chef talent.
11th-13th April, Easter Weekend: Festival Del Mar
A weekend dedicated to the sea and its fruits, Festival Del Mar is celebrated in the beautiful fishing village of Island Harbour with a Deep Sea fishing competition, swimming races, crab races, culinary contests as well as live string band music.
The celebrations culminate with the annual Easter Monday Boat Race from Sandy Ground, a fun day of rallies, sports meets, family gatherings and picnics.
14th – 17th May: 9th Annual Anguilla Lit Fest
A celebration of ‘books and beaches’, the festival honours Anguilla’s literary heritage and ongoing presence through a packed schedule of talks, workshops and presentations as well as spoken word, hip hop and open mic sessions.
The line-up includes New York Times bestselling authors, fresh writing talent, poets, publishers, historians and lecturers, as well as the “Pride of Anguilla” home-grown authors and poets.
29th May – June 1st: Anguilla Day Celebrations
The annual holiday celebrations commemorate the beginning of the Anguillian revolution, which took place in May 1967 and are celebrated by a colourful parade and a round-the-island boat race – the island’s national sport.
June – Wellness Month
Promoting the island as a health and wellness destination, visitors can enjoy an abundance of spa packages from a variety of hotels, healthy eating menus at local restaurants, public yoga classes or fitness sessions on the beach and much more!
1st – 9th August – Summer Festival 2020
The two-week-long Summer Festival is a colourful expression of Anguillian culture through dance, song, parades and boat racing.
Celebrations include the South Valley Community Street Fair, the Heineken Boat Race at Sandy Ground, Jouvert Morning (Emancipation Day) – which sees people from all over the island dance in the streets at the crack of dawn from The Valley to Sandy Ground – beach parties, the annual Eyes Wide Shut Festival, and the kaleidoscopic Parade of Troupe’s carnival through The Valley to name a few.
The 5th Annual Anguilla Poker Run and the Leeward Islands Calypso Show also add to the fun of this vibrant summer festival.
Getting to Anguilla and where to stay
Anguilla’s location in the eastern Caribbean makes getting there very much part of the adventure.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic operates an international route departing from Gatwick, London Airport, United Kingdom (LGW) and arriving at Antigua Airport, Antigua and Barbuda (ANU). The flight distance is 4076 miles or 6560 km. For direct flights, the flight time varies between 8:45hr and 9:00hr.
The route operates three times a week from London Gatwick to Antigua, and Virgin Atlantic is offering return Economy fares from £399 per person. For further information, contact www.virginatlantic.com or call 0844 2092 770. This fare is available for selected departures during 2020.
TransAnguilla Airways
Trans Anguilla Airways is an air charter airline operating to and from Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport to points in the Caribbean Leeward and Windward Islands region. Flights from Antigua depart daily and take less than an hour, with return fares from £156 per person.
For further information, visit www.transanguilla.com or call (001) (264) 497-8690.
Where to Stay?
Anguilla offers quality accommodation at every price point, from the authentic and independently-run properties in the Charming Escapes Collection to private villas and five-star resorts.
Alegria Villa, Blowing Point
This beautiful oceanfront property with breath-taking views on St. Martin offers the highest level of comfort and is popular for family holidays and getaways with friends.
The custom-designed luxury home sleeps up to 10 people in 4+ bedrooms and combines effortless beach access to the powdery-soft Sandy Point Beach, where guests can swim and snorkel.
It is ideally located near golf and tennis facilities as well as Anguilla’s top West End beaches and restaurants.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, this luxury destination is nestled into the crescent curve of Rendezvous Bay. Intimate and casually sophisticated, the beachfront resort offers 98 luxurious suites and private villas with pools.
Guests will enjoy the magnificent beach, fine dining at the resort’s acclaimed restaurants or culinary activities. These include cooking classes and wine tastings.
Relaxation and rejuvenation abound at the award-winning Venus Spa featuring Aquatherapy, and children will love the extensive splash pad and playground.
CuisinArt is also home to the only golf course on the island with its 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Championship Course.
La Vue Boutique Inn
This family-run property offers all the charm and intimacy of a traditional inn but with all the amenities of a full-service hotel. And it is just a short stroll away from beautiful Sandy Ground Beach.
Due to its convenient location, you are never more than 10 minutes drive away from the 33 powdery, white sand beaches of Anguilla as well as the island’s golf course, art galleries, Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, Blowing Point Ferry Terminal and Anguilla’s heritage sites.
Destination Glamping
For something a little different and to experience the true beach vibe, why not give Destination Glamping a try?
It promises to make your luxury island stay experience unlike any other, and it puts you as close to the water as possible without getting wet! This is luxury glamping, island-style! Another great point is the packages are customisable, so you really can make it a stay exactly as you’d like!
Further Information
Those planning a trip should visit Anguilla Tourism Board’s official website for further accommodation inspiration, as well as the best places to eat and activities to try: www.ivisitanguilla.com.
For more travel guides and hotel reviews, visit our dedicated section here.
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