Barbados Comes Alive For Its "Sweetest" Festival

Celebrations for Barbados’ most popular festival, Crop Over, came to a close on August 2 bringing an end to the vibrant extravaganza of music and masquerade, heritage and culture which spanned approximately fourteen weeks during May, June, July and August.  The annual Crop Over festival commemorates the end of the sugar cane season bringing visitors from all over the Caribbean, North America and Europe to experience a lively showcase of the multi-faceted Barbadian culture, in addition to its pristine beaches, breathtaking sunsets, Zagat-rated cuisine and vibrant nightlife.

The grand finale, and a universally celebrated national holiday, known as Kadooment Day, traditionally occurs on the first Monday in August with a colorful and lively parade of costumed dancers and fireworks.

Crop Over dates back to the 1780s when Barbados was one of the world’s foremost sugar producers and has evolved to become a series of entertainment and heritage events.  Crop Over begins with the Super Six Cavalcades in May and continues into the summer with Heritage Fairs highlighting artists and their crafts.  The festival culminates in August with big stage shows boasting pyrotechnics, flashing lights and booming sound systems.

During the final three days of Crop Over, Spring Garden Highway is converted to a bustling marketplace of arts and crafts, traditional foods, plus entertainment including steel bands, dance groups, folk performers, gospel singers and calypsonians.

The final day of the festival climaxes with Grand Kadooment, a summer street carnival, filled with people consumed by ‘festival fever’, dancing to Caribbean soca music and wearing spectacular, multicolored costumes and body paint.

It’s not too early to start planning a trip to Barbados for next year’s Crop Over festival! For further information on the festival, go to www.visitbarbados.org or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1(800) 221-9831.