Events
There is an exciting annual calendar of concerts, theatrical performances and world renowned art and culinary festivals that are sure to keep your itinerary filled with memorable events and experiences.
- Barbados Jazz Festival
- Holetown Festival
- Holders Festival
- Oistins Fish Festival
- Horticultural Exhibition
- Celtic Festival
- Mount Gay Regatta
- Crop Over Festival
- Concerts & Music Festivals
Barbados Jazz Festival
The Barbados Jazz Festival is an annual celebration of the best in local, regional and international jazz talent. Held in January, the festival features concerts at several venues across the island, including evening performances at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and historic Sunbury Plantation House and a two-day concert at the popular open air venue, Farley Hill National Park. The park’s natural setting, highlighted by the ruins of a centuries-old plantation house, makes for an unforgettable music experience.
Holetown Festival
Commemorating the anniversary of the first settlement in Barbados in February 1627, the Holetown Festival highlights local arts and crafts as well as Barbadian culture and history. The week-long festival was founded in 1977 and features musical performances including gospel, classical, calypso and tuk band concerts. There is also an Arts and Crafts Exhibition, displays by the Barbados Defense Force and Royal Barbados Police as well as a vintage motor vehicle parade. A popular street fair is held on the last Saturday of the festival, where visitors can find crafts, clothing and other items at numerous vendor stalls as well as local food and beverages.
Holders Festival
Since its inception, the Holders Festival has become one of the Caribbean’s premier cultural events. Featuring concerts, comedic and theatrical shows performed by some of the world’s most outstanding entertainers, the festival is hosted by Wendy Kidd at Holders House, a stunning 17th Century plantation home on the West Coast of the island. Past performances have featured Pavarotti, Sir Tim Rice, leading entertainers from Broadway and The West End as well as troupes from Africa, Europe and North America. The festival runs for nearly two weeks with nightly performances held in the plantation’s elegant gardens, culminating with a Gala Night featuring several highlight performances.
Oistins Fish Festival
The Oistins Fish Festival is an annual celebration honouring the island’s fishing industry and its contribution to Barbadian culture and society. Founded in 1977, the festival is held at Easter-time and features musical entertainment, dances and a crafts fair. Patrons can purchase delicious food and drinks at the Oistins Market, where fresh fish and other seafood are prepared fresh to order. Unique events such as the fish boning and grease-pole competitions attract many spectators, as do the fishing competitions held during the week-long festival.
Horticultural Exhibition
The Barbados Horticultural Society is world-renowned for its gardening prowess, having won several prestigious awards at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London over the past several years. Following the Flower Show, the Society recreates its Chelsea Exhibition at its local headquarters in Christ Church, an event well-attended by locals and visitors alike.
In addition to the main exhibitiou, the Society selects some of the island’s best private gardens for public exhibition, where visitors can see stunning displays of Barbadian flora and fauna. The gardens are generally open during the high season between December and March.
Celtic Festival
The Barbados Celtic Festival, a celebration of Celtic heritage and culture, has been held each May for more than 25 years. The festival highlights the best in Celtic music, dancing, sport and culinary delights, featuring Highland Games, golf and rugby tournaments and even a Haggis formal dinner event. Performers from Wales, Scotland and Ireland participate in the music and dancing showcases, which feature bagpipe performances, clog dancing and singing.
Mount Gay Regatta
The Mount Gay Regatta is the island’s most popular sailing event, attracting participants from the Caribbean region and beyond. Hosted in early summer, the regatta sails from Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown and makes for an exciting spectator event from many points along the South Coast. In addition to the adrenaline-filled races, the regatta weekend is filled with many social events at different venues including the Barbados Yacht Club and The Boatyard Entertainment Complex.
Crop Over Festival
Each summer Barbados comes alive during Crop Over, a five-week festival highlighting the island’s unique music and culture. The festival can be traced to the late 1700’s when Barbados celebrated the end of its sugar cane harvest with an island-wide celebration. As the sugar industry declined, so did the annual festival, however it was revived in 1974 and today is one of the island’s biggest cultural celebrations, attracting thousands of international visitors. Crop Over features several music competitions, street fairs, children’s events and art exhibitions, culminating in early August with Grand Kadooment, a carnival parade featuring large bands, music and elaborately themed costumes.
Concerts & Music Festivals
In addition to several annual music festivals, Barbados plays host to a wide variety of concerts and performances by both local and well-known international artists. Barbados is home to many talented musicians, spanning a wide range of genres including jazz, alternative, rock and the more traditional Caribbean sounds of calypso, reggae and soca. Gospel, classical music and other instrumental performances are also popular. Concerts are held regularly at different venues across the island, many of which provide a more intimate setting than usually found in larger countries.
