Spicemas (Grenada Carnival) runs for roughly two weeks in August, culminating on the second weekend. It is the biggest event on the Grenadian calendar and draws a large diaspora crowd. The highlight for many visitors is J'ouvert ("Jab Jab"), the pre-dawn street parade on the final Monday morning where participants cover themselves in oil, molasses, or paint and dance through the streets to soca and steel pan music. Costume bands parade on the final Monday and Tuesday. The vibe is more local than many Caribbean carnivals, which makes it more worthwhile.
Grenada Chocolate Festival takes place in late May over five days. It bills itself as the only tree-to-bar chocolate festival in the Caribbean, and the claim is justified: events include visits to working cocoa farms, chocolate-making workshops, and tastings. It has grown significantly in recent years and now draws international attention from food journalists and chocolate enthusiasts.
Carriacou Carnival in February is separate from Spicemas and considerably smaller, retaining older masquerade traditions including the Shakespeare Mas and stick-fighting that have largely disappeared elsewhere.
Carriacou Regatta in early August is one of the oldest traditional boat races in the Caribbean, featuring locally-built wooden sloops. It is a major event on Carriacou and worth the trip over if your timing works.
Pure Grenada Music Festival in May showcases Caribbean music artists at a beachside venue. It is a more relaxed and intimate event than the big regional music festivals.