Crop
Over, a five-week summer festival, is Barbados' most popular and colourful
festival. It's origins can be traced back to the 1780's, a time when Barbados
was the world's largest producer of sugar. At the end of the sugar season, there
was always a huge celebration to mark the culmination of another successful sugar
cane harvest - the Crop Over celebration.
As
the sugar industry in Barbados declined, so too did the Crop Over festival and
in the 1940's the festival was terminated completely. However, the festival was
revived in 1974 and other elements of Barbadian culture were infused to make the
extravaganza that exists today ..... an event that attracts thousands of people
from across the globe.
The
festival begins with the Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes
and the crowning of the King and Queen of the Festival - the most productive male
and female cane cutters of the season.
Bridgetown
Market consists of several stalls which sell local food and beverages
as well as local arts and crafts. Enjoy the calypso music and the live tuk bands
as you browse through the stalls.
Cohobblopot
is a huge carnival-like show with members of the Kadooment bands displaying their
elaborate and stunning costumes. In recent years there has also been a huge entertainment
package with the most popular calypsonians and bands performing to packed audiences.
The children
are not left out as they can participate in the Kiddies Kadooment,
donning beautiful costumes and joining their friends in a band to parade before
the judges of the competition.
Folk
concerts and art and photographic exhibitions are integral parts of the
festival, highlighting Barbadian history and culture as well as the artistic talents
of Bajans.
Calypso
is one of the main features of the Crop Over festival. The calypsonians are organised
into "tents" (Conquerers, Untouchables, House of Soca, Pioneers, Stray
Cats,etc) and these tents are sponsored by Barbados businesses. Calypsonians compete
for several prizes and titles, including the Party Monarch, the Road March
Monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch. The semi-finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop
competition are held at the picturesque East Coast Road, where the calypsonians
perform on a stage with the Atlantic surf as the backdrop while the spectators
gather in the hillsides with their picnic baskets. This magnificent spectacle
should not be missed! The finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition is held at the
National Stadium, and this is followed by the Fore-Day Morning Jump-Up!
The grande
finale is the Grand Kadooment! This carnival parade features
large bands with members dressed in elaborate costumes to depict various themes.
Designers compete for the coveted Designer of the Year prize while the
revelers seem more intent on having a good time! The revelers make their way from
the National Stadium to Spring Garden accompanied by the pulsating rythym of calypso
music. When they reach Spring Garden, the party continues with more fantastic
music, lots of food and drink and, for some, a quick swim at the nearby beach.
A grand end to a grand festival.
