5 reasons why you should be visiting Barbados for Crop Over
If you’re looking for a trip that involves plenty of good food, music, festivities, views, and history, Crop Over in Barbados is an absolute must.
If you’re not familiar with the Crop Over Festival, it’s the Caribbean island nation’s most popular and colourful summer festival.
I was lucky enough to be invited down by Visit Barbados on behalf of Daily Hive to enjoy everything Crop Over had to offer, and as a Canadian who has taken part in plenty of Calgary Stampedes, the pace and energy shown during this festival put those cowboys and cowgirls to shame.
Let’s dig into some of the reasons why you should be making plans to visit Barbados for Crop Over.
Barbados’ history and rich culture
The Crop Over Festival goes way back to the 1780s, when Barbados was the largest producer of sugar in the world. At the end of the sugar season, a large celebration was held to mark the end of another successful season, which marked the “crop being over.”
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
On one of the first days on the island, I got to take part in an island tour on an old-time Bajan Bus, learning about the island’s colonization by the British and the brutal enslavement of West and Central Africans brought to the island for labour on sugar plantations.
Emphasis was also placed on the resilience and spirit of the Barbadian people, with major political moments in the country including gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and transitioning to a republic in 2021.
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
We also passed and were informed about numerous historical buildings throughout the tour, like George Washington House, the only house the future “First Father” of his country ever lived in outside of the continental United States, or St. John’s Parish Church, with the current stone structure dating back to the 1830s.
We also stopped at Gun Hill Signal Station, which gave magnificent views of the countryside and the coast, along with a unique look into military life on the island.
All the Crop Over parties and events
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
When visiting Barbados for Crop Over, there is one key thing that you need to keep in mind and never forget. That is pacing yourself.
It’s truly celebration after celebration, with each day and night bringing with it a neat theme and vibe.
During my time in Barbados, I got to take in numerous morning, afternoon, and evening festivities, including two beach parties, a mimosa breakfast party, a chic music festival, a colossal cultural stage show, and another breakfast party in historic Bridgetown that overlooked Carlisle Bay.
In my part of visiting all of these celebrations, it became apparent that the people of Barbados truly approach Crop Over as more than “just a party.” It’s the chance to catch up, reconnect, honour their culture, their roots, and to revel in, celebrate, and cherish who they are.
One party I attended was one that I found the most daunting leading up to the trip — the Neon Carnival J’ouvert, which started at 1 a.m. and ran until 7 a.m. That’s right, nothing like a glow paint, neon powder party in the middle of the night.
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
If you’re looking for nonstop fun, get into this — as soon as the crowds gathered and the glow paint started flying everywhere, it was smiles all around. The intoxicating soca music made the hours feel like minutes, and before I knew it, the spectacular Barbados sunrise was in front of me. It was such a blast.
When I tell you everyone gets out to enjoy these parties and events during Crop Over, I mean everyone. One event, Dis Gotta Be Mas, is hosted by Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, who mingled with the crowd and chatted with citizens and tourists alike. You never know who you’ll run into, and that’s the beauty of it.
Grand Kadooment Day
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
The grandest party of them all, it felt fitting to give Grand Kadooment its own profile when it comes to Barbados’ six-week-long Crop Over Festival. It’s held annually on the first Monday in August, with thousands and thousands of people partaking in the parade.
The Masquerade Bands that make up the parade are exploding with colour, over-the-top sequin costumes, feathers and jewels, and it’s the final big spectacle of the Crop Over Festival.
If you ever have the opportunity to take part in the parade, be sure to wear lots of sunscreen, stay hydrated, wear very comfortable shoes, and prepare to strut your stuff. If you want to play it cool and enjoy the parade from the sidelines as a spectator, prepare for much of those same rules. That soca and calypso music will get you GOING, and the rays from the sun are no joke in this part of the world.
Its gorgeous landscapes and views
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If warm, crystal clear baby blue-hued ocean water is your thing (I mean, who doesn’t love that?), Barbados is calling your name. I stayed at Treasure Beach Art Hotel, which, on top of being a lovely, quiet property, had perfect beach access. Crop Over can be a busy time, and you best be sure you’re setting aside some downtime to enjoy that balmy Caribbean water.
The island also has plenty of beaches to explore, and if you enjoy snorkelling, I managed to spot a sea turtle and numerous stingrays during my adventures.
One thing that tickled me was locals commenting on the island’s weather, often calling quick, sometimes heavy showers “liquid sunshine,” which was referenced often due to them appearing but passing quickly to allow for plenty of strong, sustained sunshine to follow suit. If you see the chance of rain in the forecast, don’t let that deter you from going about your day!
Food and drink
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
A conversation about a trip is never complete without dishing about the food, and let me tell you, the food in Barbados was scrumptious.
It has a very unique cuisine story, blending African, British, and Caribbean flavours and influences. I had to try Bajan Fish Cakes and Macaroni Pie, two iconic Bajan dishes, and also had a plate of swordfish and octopus salad at times.
I am by no means a seafood lover, particularly fish, but time and time again I found myself peeping the menus and being pulled to fish, thanks to how magnificent the seasonings and spices were — 10 out of 10 from me.
Heck, I even indulged in dishes that weren’t the most island-original, and they all tasted amazing. How about eggs Benedict, a cheeseburger, or pepperoni pizza, anyone?
When it comes to drinks, well, Barbados is considered the birthplace of modern rum and is home to the oldest continuously operating commercial rum distiller in the world, Mount Gay, established in 1703. If you want a rum anywhere, it’s going to be handed to you in short order. Delicious rum punches were a staple for me, as well as rum sours.
If rum isn’t your thing (but seriously, with how tasty it is in Barbados, it will quickly become a favourite), there are neat local brews, like Banks Beer, 10 Saints, and Rude Boy vodka drinks, just to name a few.
Another big thing to note from me regarding Barbados was the fact that the water and ice were all good to consume– something that feels like a total treat to some of us Canadians who are used to Mexico vacations. Another win in my books for Barbados.
Bonus reason: Rihanna’s childhood home/Rihanna Drive
Laine Mitchell/Daily Hive
Being a little closer to one of the biggest singers on the planet is always a neat opportunity, so when you are in Barbados for Crop Over, you need to pencil in some time to visit Rihanna’s childhood home in Bridgetown.
Not only can you stand outside the vibrantly coloured home for some photo opportunities, but the entire street is also known as Rihanna Drive, previously known as Westbury Road. How cool is it to wander the same street a now chart-topping, influential, billionaire businesswoman once grew up on?
So, there you have it.
If you are looking for an absolute adventure next summer out of Canada, take a look at Crop Over in Barbados. Getting to the spectacular country is actually pretty easy from Canada, with carriers like WestJet, Air Canada, and Air Transat offering direct and connecting routes to Bridgetown, depending on where you live.
I can promise you there will never be a dull moment, and you’re likely going to make some new friendships, too. Barbados is calling!
The author of this article was hosted by Visit Barbados