Brades

Introduction

Brades is the de facto capital of Montserrat since the evacuation of Plymouth in 1997. The city is located in Carr's/Little Bay on the northwest end of the island. All of the government buildings have been relocated to this town of about 1,000 people.

Sights and Activities

Diving

Carr's/Little Bay offer great snorkeling and diving opportunities. Also this is a good jumping point to other diving locations around the island. Many of the dive schools and dive centers are located in Brades.

Events and Festivals

St Patrick’s Festival

In Montserrat, the lively festivities marking Ireland’s national holiday last an entire week. On the "other emerald isle," St Patrick’s celebrates both Ireland and the anniversary of the Montserrat slave uprising on March 17, 1768. Like Ireland, the day is marked by plenty of drinking, partying and a lively parade. However, Montserrat’s St Patrick’s Day Festival also includes masked street dancers called Masqueraders, a recreated slave village complete with a slave feast of local food and a junior calypso competition. The Freedom Run between Cudjoe Head and Salem Park also takes place along with kite flying, top spinning and unique music combining African and Irish influences.

Calabash Festival

The Calabash Festival is a celebration of Montserrat’s most useful fruit, from which many of the island’s traditional musical instruments, eating implements and other items are made. A cricket match, gospel concert, island boat tour, and Irish lecture series are all on the regular schedule of this seven-day event concluding with a nail and hair show followed by a jazz concert.

Cudjoe Head Celebrations

The Montserrat village of Cudjoe Head was named after a slave who fled from his master during the 18th century. Cudjoe was eventually caught, lynched, and beheaded. The slave’s head was perched on a silk cotton tree as a terrifying reminder of the consequences of running away. Today, Cudjoe Head Eve kicks off the festival with a lively street party filled with vendors, music and fun. This two-day August event includes a string band and masquerades along with bikes and relay races.

Montserrat Carnival

Montserrat’s take on traditional Caribbean festivities runs from mid-December until the New Year. It's a homecoming for several former residents who fled the island after the Soufrière Hills Volcano to come back and enjoy Christmastime and celebrate Carnival, featuring beauty pageants, calypso competitions and lively street parties. Montserrat’s famous Masqueraders are among the most unusual dancers during the final New Year’s Day costume parade. The 50th anniversary is upcoming and expected to be the biggest and boldest celebration yet.

Weather

Brades has a hot and humid tropical climate with average daytime temperatures between 28 °C and 30 °C and average nights around 23 °C. Most rain falls between June and October with a change of hurricanes from August onwards. Therefore, the drier (and slightly cooler) December to April period is the best time to visit weatherwise. Unfortunately prices rise sharply during this period and the months of November and May still have good weather. So budgetwise these latter months may be a good option as well.

Getting There

By Plane

Gerald's Airport (MNI) is a small international airport that opened in 2005 to replace the old airport which was destroyed in the eruption of 1997. Currently the only regular flights are:

• Carib Aviation that fliess to Antigua
• Windward Islands Airways (Winair) that flies to Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy
• Trans Anguilla that flies to Anguilla

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

External Links