Festivals in Barbados

Vivacious entertainment is provided year-round in the form of traditional festivals. Vividly-hued costumes and energetic Caribbean rhythms are accompanied by swaying hips and stamping feet. Comprised of many different African, British, American and Amerindian elements, the festivals of Barbados are an exciting display of the living culture of the Bajan people.

The Barbados Jazz Festival starts off the year in January. Growing in size and popularity, this festival has featured international jazz stars such as Patti LaBelle, Kenny G, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, George Benson, Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack and many more.

Next is the Holetown Festival in February, which commemorates the first landing and settlement in Barbados with a street parade, a street fair, a tattoo, singing in the nearby churches.

Holders Season in March is the most sophisticated festival, offering the best in opera (Pavarotti has performed), Shakespeare, calypso and several surprising art forms.

Oistins Fish Festival in April is a novel way of celebrating the livelihood of Oistins, a fishing village; activities include fish-boning competitions, climbing the greasy pole, etc. 

The Congaline Festival, also in April, is an exciting eclectic mix of soca, soul, rhythm poetry, cool, earthy jazz and reggae, even gospel reggae.

Gospelfest is Whitsuntide weekend, with various enjoyable ways of giving praise to the Lord.

And finally, Crop-Over is the biggest festival for Barbados and lasts for three weeks in July and August. Historically the time for celebrating the sugar cane harvest, the festival culminates in a grand finale on the first Monday in August, the Kadooment, which highlights a parade of costumed bands. Other major elements of this festival include the Pic-o-de-Crop calypso competition, Bridgetown Market, which is a large street fair; Cohobblopot, a blend of the island’s best entertainment.