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The Barbados Crop Over Festival, or Barbados Carnival, is an annual event held each summer in the Caribbean island. The festival is spread over three months, concluding with the Grand Kadooment on the first Monday in August.
Barbados Crop Over Festival History
The crop over in Barbados dates back to the 1780s when the Caribbean island was the largest producer of sugar in the world. The end of the sugar season was marked by a massive celebration – the Crop Over.
Gradually, as the Barbados sugar industry fell into decline, so did the festival until it was ended in the 1940s. Fortunately the Crop Over Barbados was resurrected in 1974, with elements of Barbadian culture added, to make it into the colourful event it is today.
The Barbados sugar cane industry had a devastating effect upon the flora on the island. Read how people are trying to regenerate the nature of the island in Mark Bibby Jackson’s Unearthing Sustainable Barbados Tourism.
Barbados Crop Over 2024 – Events and Activities
The festival kicks off with the Opening Gala and Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes, when the King and Queen of the Festival are crowned. Traditionally these were the most productive sugar cane cutters.
A key element of Crop Over is Calypso, with people competing for titles including Party Monarch, Sweet Soca Monarch and Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch, the final of which is held at Kensington Oval followed by the Fore-Day Morning Jump-Up, a masquerade party that can draw up to 15,000 revellers.
There will also be folk concerts and art exhibitions highlighting Barbadian history and culture, as well as stalls in Bridgetown Market selling food and beverages as well as local arts and crafts.
Grand Kadooment 2024
The finale of the festival is the Grand Kadooment, which is always held on the first Monday of August, so that makes it the 5 August 2024.
This giant carnival parade involves large bands with people dressed in elaborate costumes. While the designers are up for the Designer of the Year award, partygoers seem more intent on having some good Caribbean fun. The parade concludes at the National Botanical Gardens, where the party continues with music, food, rum and a quick dip in the nearby beach.
Children participate in the Kiddies Kadooment, parading before judges.
When Is Barbados Crop Over?
It runs across the summer, spanning three months (May to July) before its conclusion on the first Monday in August.
Other Festivals in Barbados
If you can’t make it to the Caribbean island for Crop Over, then why not visit the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, and drink rum at dawn.
Things To Do in Barbados
Discover 11 Things To Do in Barbados, or try www.visitbarbados.org for more Barbados travel inspiration.
Barbados Crop Over Festival
Learn more about the festival here.
