Dominica punches well above its weight for festivals given its population of around 70,000.
Carnival (Mas Dominik) takes place on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, usually in February or early March. Dominica's carnival is generally considered more authentic and less commercialised than those on neighbouring islands. The focus is on calypso, soca, and traditional mas — costume bands parading through Roseau. Jouvert (the pre-dawn street jump-up) is the rawest and most fun part. The island gets busy; book accommodation early.
World Creole Music Festival is Dominica's biggest annual event and one of the Caribbean's finest music festivals. Held over three days in late October — typically the last weekend — it draws Creole musicians from across the diaspora: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Reunion, Mauritius, Louisiana, and Dominica itself. The concerts are held at Windsor Park Stadium in Roseau. The festival coincides with Dominica's Independence Day celebrations on November 3, so the whole last week of October into early November has a festive atmosphere.
Jazz 'n Creole is held annually in May at Fort Shirley in Cabrits National Park, with the ruins of the 18th-century garrison as the backdrop. It's smaller and more laid-back than the October festival, combining jazz with Creole folk music.
Independence Day (November 3) marks Dominica's independence from Britain in 1978 and is celebrated with parades, cultural shows, and community events across the island.