Get Ready to Party Again!
Belize’s September Celebrations Are Bigger Than Ever This Year
Belizeans love a party, it’s part of the national consciousness. But one month a year stands out as the absolute pinnacle of Belizean revelry.
Yes folks, the September Celebrations are just around the corner, and this year’s nationwide fiesta is looking to be the biggest and brightest yet.
For the uninitiated, Belize comes alive during the month of September as the nation celebrates its relatively recent independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981. Independence Day celebrations on the 21st follow the St George’s Caye Day festivities on September 10th..
St George’s Caye Day is near and dear to every Belizean’s heart, being the national commemoration of a 1798 battle that marked the turning point of the early Spanish/British Honduras conflict and is considered to be the defining moment in Belizean statehood.
Having the two biggest national holidays occur in the same month creates momentum leading up to the Day of the Americas, (the holiday formerly known as Columbus Day) on October 12 and Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19, fuelling the drive towards Christmas and Boxing Day before closing out the year with an always vibrant New Year’s Eve.
And these are just the official bank holidays. Around the country, and especially at resorts, Halloween and Thanksgiving Day are also celebrated in that inimitable Belizean style.
Whew! You can understand why preparations are already under way in the lead up to what some people call the silly season. It’s been remarked that from September to January Belize hosts the longest running party in the world, and once you’ve experienced it, you’ll be inclined to agree.
And this year, with increased air service from several US destinations as well as more local flights from Maya Flats and continually improved infrastructure in Belize, things are set to be bigger and better than ever.
The September Celebrations
This year’s September Celebrations mark the 33rd anniversary of national independence and 216 years since the decisive Battle of St. George’s Caye with the theme; “Industrious Hands, Intelligent Minds, Together for Belize.”
And in that spirit things officially kicked off on Saturday, August 9, with the National Song Competition Final.
The official opening ceremonies will commence August 31 on St. George’s Caye, followed by the Expo Belize fair on the first weekend of September and the always exuberant Carnival on the weekend after that. The official ceremonies for St. George’s Caye Day take place on Wednesday, September 10 in Belize City and for Independence Day on Sunday, September 21 in Belmopan.
Let the good times roll!
For more information, check out the September celebrations Facebook page at
We’ll also be posting September Celebration news, views, images and updates here right up to and throughout the festivities. The colourful Carnival, and the rambunctious, early dawn, pre carnival “J’ouvert” (thank you for that, Trinidad and Tobago) party deserve their own pages, and our roving reporters slash celebrants will be on hand to cover the action there and throughout September.