RSS |
The highlight of the summer (and, some think, of the whole year) is the Crop over Festival, an all-island jubilation from end June to early August that celebrates the completion of the sugar cane harvest. This festival marked the superiority of the island in the production of sugar and marked the culmination of another successful sugar cane harvest. The summer festival celebrated for five weeks is the most popular and colorful festival of the island. |
With the decline of the sugar industry in the island the festival too was terminated. But however the festival was revived in 1974. The festival has its root in the eighteenth century.
Other elements of Barbadian culture were also infused to make the crop over festival a grand extravaganza!
The festival begins with the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes. The most productive male and female cane cutters of the season are crowned the King and Queen of the Festival.
There are several stalls at the Bridgetown Market selling local food and beverages as well as local arts and crafts. Calypso music and the live tuck bands enthrall the shoppers as they browse through the stalls.
Cohobblopot is a huge carnival like show with members of the Kadooment bands displaying their elaborate and stunning costumes. Popular calypsonians and bands also perform to packed audiences in the recent years.
In the Kiddies Kadooment, the children don themselves in beautiful costumes and join their friends in a band to parade before the judges of the competition. The festival also includes folk concerts and art and photographic exhibitions which highlight the Barbadian history and culture as well as the artistic talents of Bajans.
Calypso is one of the main features of the Crop over festival. Barbados business men sponsor tents and the calypsonians are organized into tents like the conquerors, untouchables, house of soca, pioneers, stray cats etc.,
Competitions are held for titles like party monarch, the road March monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch. The semi finals of the competition are held at the picturesque East Coast Road. Here the calypsonians perform on a stage with the Atlantic Surf as the Backdrop while the spectators gather in the hill side. The finals of the competition are held at the National Stadium followed by the Fore Day Morning Jump Up.
Grand Kadooment marks the grand finale of the carnival. The parade features large bands with members dressed in themed costumes. Best costume designer gets the Designer of the Year Prize. The revelers make their way from the National Stadium to Spring Garden accompanied by the pulsating rhythm of Calypso music. At the spring Garden the party continues with more fantastic music and lots of food and drink. A fitting finale to the grand carnival celebrations!
The designer with the best costume is named Designer of the Year. At the end of the parade route, there is more music, food, and fun. The festival ends with a huge fireworks display. Barbados’s Crop over Festival has something for everyone from music and pageantry to fabulous food and handicrafts. If you're looking for a fun festival, this is it.
