Events
St. Martin Day 2023: the Smaatin National Cultural Parade capped the 64th celebration in Philipsburg
Sint Maarten marked the 64th St. Martin Day on Saturday 11 November 2023 with church bells, a wreath-laying at the Bellevue border monument, a uniformed parade and, from 2 PM, the Smaatin National Cultural Parade from L.B. Scott Road to the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village.
By SXM Daily ·
Reported 13 November 2023.
St. Martin Day 2023, the 64th celebration of the island's shared holiday, was held on Saturday 11 November 2023 with an official programme on the Dutch side that ended with the Smaatin National Cultural Parade, The Daily Herald reported.
The morning programme
According to the Herald, the day began at 7:30am with the ringing of church bells and an ecumenical service at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Philipsburg. Shortly before 10am, Governor Ajamu Baly, Préfet Délégué Vincent Berton, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Collectivité First Vice-President Alain Richardson laid wreaths at the Bellevue border monument.
Police cadets, members of the St. Maarten Volunteer Corps and officers of the French border police led a uniformed parade along Walter J.A. Nisbeth Road, followed by drum bands and youth brigades, ending at the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village around 11am. Speeches there, including by Education and Culture Minister Rodolphe Samuel, focused on unity and the island's shared history, the Herald reported.
The cultural parade
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau had announced a 2:00 PM start for the national cultural parade, with a livestream for those who could not attend. Dozens of cultural groups, national associations and school troupes in traditional dress made their way from L.B. Scott Road to the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village, watched by hundreds of spectators along the route, according to the Herald. Majorettes and flag-waving moko jumbies on stilts were among the highlights.
The French side was set to host the 2024 official programme in French Quarter: see St. Martin Day 2024: French Quarter set to host the 65th official programme. For this year's celebration, see St. Martin Day Celebration set for Wednesday, Nov 11.