For a few days during the year the locals of Saint Lucia don their fanciest and most summery carnivalesque costumes before taking to the streets. Hailed as one of the best carnival celebrations in the Americas, this yearly event manages to portray the Caribbean culture of this small island nation perfectly. The festival arrives at its climax with a two-day long parade of live music, feathers, beads and scantily clad carnival-goers moving rhythmically under the radiant Saint Lucian sun.

Be prepared to have your mind bent, blown and rewired as you walk into the Lange Voorhout Palace where the illusory work of famous graphic artist M.C. Escher is exhibited. The palace is home to such legendary Escher paintings as 'Air and Water' in which birds are blended into fish and 'Waterfall' in which water appears to flow upwards instead of down. There are interactive experiences on the second floor, dedicated to the Eye of Escher where guests are encouraged to solve some of Escher’s most perplexing mysteries, including the impossible Penrose Triangle. On the third floor, there is a large-scale optical illusion where adults can appear to be children and vice versa. Audio tours and guided tours are available and there are additional temporary exhibitions taking place on occasion.

Every year in the month of August, reggae fans are in for a treat on the island of Saint Lucia. With afro-punk, R&B and hip-hop outfits all regularly on the line-up too, the Roots & Soul festival is three days of reggae classics as well as the most innovative names on the current scene. Live shows usually take place at a couple of different locations on the island, such as Rodney Bay and the Pigeon Island National Landmark.