Now entering its 51st year, the official Cropover Festival is a month-long celebration of everything that makes Barbados the place that locals and visitors love so dearly. If you want a crash course in Bajan culture, attending the Cropover is a surefire way to get full marks. The festival centres around celebration and all the additions that make it possible, people, music, costumes, food and alcohol. It's a month-long celebration which reaches a crescendo during the Grand Kadooment, the island's jump-up day, which culminates in a day-long parade with celebrations that go deep into the night. With painful origins that date back to the British slave trade when Barbados was the world's leading producer of sugar cane, the festival marked the end of the sugar cane season. Leading slave owners to throw parties in order to encourage their slaves to continue working at the crushing rate that they did during the harvesting season. Cropover has been reclaimed from those painful origins and is now a pure expression and celebration of Bajan culture, which does not shy away from its painful history. From liberal amounts of rum to the music and dance moves which have their origins in African dance, to the food which holds a fantastic diversity of flavours coming from Africa, the Americans and beyond.
When is it on?
Known as the Summer's 'sweetest festival', festivities begin as early as May, although the festival typically starts the first week of July and climaxes with Grand Kadooment the start of August.
Where is it on?
The festival takes place all over the island, with Bridgetown the capital being the centre of some of it. If you were looking for somewhere to stay during it, part of the reality of going to Barbados is that you will have to get a taxi most places - and they don't come cheap. But if you want to centre yourself a little, just outside Bridgetown is probably the best place to stay.
How do you get there?
There's currently no direct flight from Ireland (although we did hear that the Tourism Board are looking to change that *cough* looking at you Aer Lingus). However, there is a direct flight from London Heathrow, which as all Irish people know is very easy to get to. The Virgin Atlantic flight we were on over to Barbados was ultimately heading to Trinidad, which we found out afterwards.
How long should you stay there for?
Honestly, if you are heading there for Cropover it depends on how much you want to party, since it is a pretty lengthy flight (around the eight-hour mark) I would say spending 7 days in Barbados would be a minimum. If you wanted a few days afterwards to relax before heading back into the cut and thrust of life, perhaps 10 days, and if annual leave is not something you are conscious of you could easily spend two weeks there. Heading a few days before Grand Kadooment is a great shout, if you are coming from Europe it will help you adjust to the small but sneaky time difference (which may leave you trotting off to bed a bit early). It will also allow you to attend some of the truly incredible parties held during the lead-up to Grand Kadooment, Foreday Morning (which has a very early wake-up call which is absolutely worth it), Brek Fus fete and Soca 5.0 to name but a few. Our recommendation would be to stay on a couple of days on either side of Grand Kadooment, at the end to allow for a bit of recovery time, as the festival can be full on at times.
What is it like?
It's a festival where you can feel all preconditions shake off with each jiggle of your foot and each passing tickle of a multicoloured feather. The parties are a lot of fun, with people of all different shapes, sizes and ages, all dressed to the nines and having an absolutely freeing time. The Grand Kadooment is the highlight of the Cropover, and is typically what people picture when they think of 'Carnival' the festival made famous from London's contribution to it. It is an onslaught of colour, noise and liquor, one that's not exactly for the faint-hearted, but those who have hardened with time and responsibility will truly feel the benefits of letting loose, getting low and letting go. Huge trucks roll along blaring Soca music, and while in their wake, people follow in matching bejewelled outfits. Depending on the time of day or the heat of the sun you might find folks in various stages of delirium, tiredness, dehydration and sunstroke.
What should I pack?
Please don't do what I did and pack like I normally do for all my other tropical holidays, like a family member from the Wild Thornberrys. Just because it's hot and humid does not mean that folks attending the Cropover Festival are wearing linen and SPF 50 hats. The gals and the guys are dressed to kill, with some incredible outfits that show all the curves and the latest fashion trends. Skin tight, bright and skimpy are the order of the day, the more an outfit accentuates a curve the better. Old, and young, everyone is showing off their best fits and they are all looking amazing. Depending on what daytime activity you are planning to do, definitely bring casual wear but maybe make it a co-ord or urban-style casual wear, and definitely pack more going-out outfits than you think you need, as there's no such thing as overdressed. Also since you are getting taxis everywhere, pack the heels (as long as you dance in them all night). Depending on what parties you are taking part in, read the small print, as there might be paint and lots of water involved, I packed old runners and an outfit or two that I wasn't worried about getting rid of (and it turns out I was very prepared to get rid of it).
What to pack if you are taking part in Grand Kadooment?
When it comes to participating in Grand Kadooment you are better off bringing more than you think you need, as it can be a full-on experience taking part in it. Depending on the costume you will be wearing you might have to grab some tights (the more colourful the better) which can help with chaffing and sunburn, alongside nipple tape or nipple covers which are also crucial. Depending on what band you are travelling with you should have access to a bus where you can leave more stuff in and also head in for a break, but in terms of stuff that you are carrying on your person. Getting a cover which has a string for your phone is also a great shout you'll be able to string it around yourself within arms reach of grabbing any snaps you wish to get (of which there will be plenty!), alongside a jazzy bumbag where you can bring your essentials, which we would recommend bringing an energy bar/jellies for energy and some high SPF suncream that you can spray, alongside an umbrella (which can work for the sun and the rain). Comfortable shoes that you aren't afraid of if they get wrecked are also a key shout, so get those well-worn runners that have stood you through thick and thin out.
What's the weather like?
Like anywhere these days it's very hard to predict the weather. The Cropover is on during the rainy season, but I have to say the rain is not quite like we would know it in Ireland. It's definitely more tropical rain which comes down in great big bursts and then leaves pretty quickly, unlike our rain clouds that hang around and never leave once they come. I packed a rain jacket and an umbrella, and I barely used them, the umbrella was helpful as it was packed into my bag so on the off-chance I needed it I could but to be honest I could have just as easily left it at home and waited under a tree for a couple of minutes for the rain to die down.
Can you take photos and videos of it?
Of course, everyone around is trying to capture the colour and the festivities of the day. We would say that as this is such an exhausting day if someone taking part in the parade is looking tired, to ask their permission before taking their photo or recording them, it's only fair. But most people are more than happy to take part, give a smile, a wave or drop it like it's hot for the photos/videos.
Where does it start from? What date/time?
The route and timings for the 2025 Grand Kadooment have yet to be released, so keep an eye on the Barbados Tourism Board website.
For further questions head over to The Cropover website.
