Barbados Festivals

Barbados festivals highlights many of the peculiar cultural characteristics of this Caribbean paradise… folk parades, street carnivals, Tuk Band music, Land ship parades, Shaggy Bears, Mother Sallies, flying fish and cou cou, and black pudding and souse are all Barbadian characteristics displayed in the island’s festivals.

So if you would like to learn more about the folklore and fanfare associated with Barbados festivals follow the links below…

#1) Crop Over – Is Barbados number one festival, this colourful five-week festival which takes place during the summer is Barbados biggest party. As the name suggest Crop Over is held to commemorate the successful end to yet another sugar cane harvest.

The Crop Over festival dates back to the 18th century when the then colonial Barbados was a major producer of cane sugar for the British Empire.

… But as sugar cane production in Barbados decline over the years so too did the festival until it was finally terminated in the mid 1900’s. However in 1974 the government and Barbados Tourism Authority revived the festival as a cultural extravaganza and a major tourism-marketing ploy.

Today Crop Over is extremely popular and renowned for its ceremonial delivery of the last canes, Calypso music, colourful costumes, street carnival and great food.

Which when combined create a celebratory atmosphere that can’t be beaten. It is little wonder that Crop Over has been one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean for the last 25 years.To learn more about this Barbadian festival click here

#2) Barbados Jazz Festival – The Caribbean’s premier jazz festival. I think this festival is the perfect event on the Barbados entertainment calendar for you to relax and unwind.

The festival is hosted in some of the most ideal venues on the island; these include Sunbury Great House, Four Square Rum Refinery and Heritage Park and The Farley Hill National park.

The Barbados jazz festival is extremely popular with people from around the world who often plan their vacations to coincide with the world-class mix of local and international artist who are book to perform.

The Barbados Jazz Festival has been the most popular Jazz festival on the island over the last 15 years. It’s also renowned for its grand finale extravaganza at the Farley Hill National Park appropriately called Jazz On The Hill.

This truly outstanding venue with spectacular views across the rolling hills of the Scotland District is perhaps the most ideal place to listen to jazz while relaxing with family and friends.

#3) Holetown Festival – A demonstration in fanfare and folklore. The cultural festival feature the Tuk Band and a number of the traditional folk characters like the stilt walkers, shaggy bears and the mother sally.

The festival, which was first started in 1977, is held each year in February to commemorate the first landing of British settlers in Barbados in 1627.

Music, craft and food are the hallmarks of this one-week festival which feature a local entertainment package which includes the legendary Royal Barbados Police Force Band, a beauty pageant, historical exhibitions, craft exhibitions, folk dancing, mouth-watering local cuisine and a variety of music.

#4) Oistins Fish Festival – Is a reminder that life in this quiet Barbados fishing village revolves around the sea. The Oistins festival was established in 1977 as a means of improving the economic fortunes of the fisher folk at Oistins.

Every Easter since then thousands of locals and visitors visit the south coast town of Oistins to take part in this annual Barbados festival.

Of all the Barbados festivals the Ositins Fish Festival, has grown to be the biggest community tourism extravaganza on the island, by bring the community, the island’s heritage and tourism together in a holistic way.

A mix of activities that includes cultural presentations by the Barbados Land Ship, the Tuk Band and a number of other indigenous traditional Barbadian characters creates a vibrant festival atmosphere that can’t be beaten.

There are also fish-boning, dolphin skinning and cooking competition that are fiercely competitive and keeps alive the major art forms associated with the fishing industry.

These are the main Barbados festivals each one showcasing the sights, sounds, craft and of course the local delicacies of this island paradise...