Barbados Crop Over 2008

Barbados Crop Over 2008

Each year thousands of tourists, returning nationals and locals pack the shores of Barbados to celebrate the ending of the crop season, and share in the cultural extravaganza of the Crop Over festival.

The Barbados Crop Over Festival 2008, runs from May 2nd until the 7th August and begins with the Cavalcades, which visit the 11 parishes throughout the island.

However unlike other carnivals, this festival is heralded as being more than a carnival, but “sweet fuh days” and steeped in history and tradition dating back as early as slave days in Barbados celebrating the ending of the sugar cane cutting season.

The ability to celebrate through song and dance has evolved throughout the years with competitions, huge stage shows and the culmination with a jump up day known as Grand Kadooment.

Come and enjoy the expressions of Barbadian culture on display at its best, by following the various activities listed below.

Cavalcades

The Crop Over Cavalcade goes to the parishes across the island from May 9th until June 14th 2008. Here songs for the season are launched amidst a party atmosphere and “good ole Bajan” food is served.

These Cavalcades give those attending a taste of the music that is to come for the season and wets the appetites of those eagerly awaiting the rest of the Crop Over events to follow.

There are a total of 11 Cavalcades and makes for an excellent and fitting start to the festival.

» June 14th:
Final Cavalcade at National Stadium

» Wednesday June 18th:
Arts and Craft Symposium at Grand Salle Central Bank at 8am.

» Sunday June 22nd:
Junior Calypso Tent at Lester Vaughn St. Thomas at 6pm.

“De Big Show” has an amazing line up of stars including Red Plastic Bag, The Mighty Gabby, John King, Grynner, TC, Natalie, Pompey, Serenader and a host of other with Mac Fingall as the MC.

Food and Drinks on sale throughout the evening and at the after party. There will also be a craft maket!

It starts on Sunday June 22nd at 7:00 P.M. Sharp at Ocean Park.

» Sunday June 22nd:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Sunday June 29th:
Junior Calypso Tent at Lester Vaughn St. Thomas at 6pm.

This event is geared specifically for the up and coming younger generation of Calypsonians to showcase their talents.

» Sunday June 29th:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Saturday July 5th:
Crop Over Opening Gala at Queen’s Park at 12pm.

The Crop Over Gala represents the origin of the Crop Over festival. Those attending are privy to the crowning of the victorious King and Queen of the Crop; these two persons are chosen based on who has cut the largest loads of canes during the sugar cane season.

The gala, a family event, has plenty to do and see. With food stalls, fashion shows, activities for the children, a recap of the previous year’s musical hits and a street parade.

The Opening Gala truly proves why Crop Over is more than just a carnival. Barbadian culture is displayed to its full potential, where those can come and sample all that Barbados has to offer.

» Sunday July 6th:
Crop Over Read In at Tyrol Cot at 4pm.

» Sunday July 6th:
Visual Arts Exhibition at Grand Salle, Central Bank at 7pm.

» Sunday July 6th:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Wednesday July 9th:
Pan in De Future Tense at Dover Beach Facility at 7pm.

» Thursday July 10th:
Pan in Bay Gardens at Oistins Bay Gardens Christ Church at 7pm.

» Friday July 11th:
Back-In-Time Pan at Speightstown Esplanade St. Peter at 6.30pm.

» Sunday July 13th:
Junior Monarch Semi-Finals at Sherbourne Conference Centre at 6pm.

» Sunday July 13th:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Thursday July 17th:
Junior Monarch Concert at Frank Collymore Hall at 12pm.

» Saturday July 19th:
Junior Monarch Finals at Sherbourne Conference Centre at 7pm.

A winner is chosen among these young calypsonians, this is an evening for both young and old to enjoy.

» Saturday July 19th:
Pan In De City Jubilee Gardens to Independence Square at 11pm.

» Sunday July 20th:
Pan Pun De Sand at Brandon’s Beach at 2pm.

It wouldn’t be a festival anywhere in the region without the melodic sounds of the steel ‘pan’… and what better venue to enjoy the sweet strains of this Caribbean instrument than on the beach! With a combination of sun, sand and West Indian rhythms, patrons can look forward to the variety of sweet steel pan bands showcased in a non- competitive environment.

» Sunday July 20th:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Friday July 25th:
Pic-O-De-Crop Semi Finals at Sir Garfield Sobers Complex at 7pm.

Pic-O-De-Crop is the ultimate calypso competition during Crop Over, where contestants are judged based on the power of their lyrics, rendition and originality as well as their presentation on the night. Calypsos in this competition take the form of commentary, which focus on the socials ills or reflect the present state of the country with biting lyrics and most times unique and comical puns and double entendres. Those chosen derive from the varying calypso tents across the island and compete against the reigning Monarch.

» Saturday July 26th:
Junior Kadooment at Kensington Oval at 10am.

» Saturday July 26th:
Crop Over Folk Concert at Frank Collymore Hall at 7pm.

Folk Fest is a concert commemorating the 1937 riots, an event which marked a vital turning point in the island’s history. It highlights the general feeling of discontentment amongst the masses during that time.

Where people such as activist Clement Payne urged the people to assert themselves and thus bring forth change. The Folk Fest concert demonstrates the history of Barbados from settlement to independence through poetry, dance and music, and features top local folk performers.

» Sunday July 27th:
Party Monarch Finals at Ermy Bourne Highway at 11am.

Ermy Bourne Highway will host the massive Party Monarch Calypso competition. Held on the lush and picturesque hillside of the Scotland District, St. Andrew will transform into an atmosphere of fun, dancing and revelry.

Calypso and Soca performers are sure not to disappoint as they wow the anxious and hyped crowd with their energy, and compete for the coveted title of Party Monarch. Competitors pull out all the stops, with breath taking introductions to wow the crowds and whilst vying for the Crown. It is one which must be personally experienced to fully appreciate.

» Sunday July 27th:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Friday August 1st:
Pic-O-De-Crop Finals at Kensington Oval at 10am.

One of the most popular events during Crop Over, the Finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition, will be a spectacle of tension and excitement at the National Stadium when ten finalists compete for the year’s Pic-O-De-Crop crown and top prizes.

The competition is strongly supported by locals and is the climax of weeks of tent performances by the calypsonians, who each sing two songs before a panel of judges who award points based on lyrics, content, performance, melody and diction.

» Saturday August 2nd:
Foreday Mornin’ Jam from Independence Square to Spring Garden Highway beginning at 2am.

An early morning “Jump Up”, which begins right after the Pic-O-De-Crop competition, participants get covered in mud and party through the streets of Bridgetown to Spring Garden. With the “Jump Up” starting at 2 a.m., people usually do an “all nighter” and experience both events.

» Saturday August 2nd:
Bridgetown Market at Spring Garden Highway at 10am.

Bridgetown Market is a large street fair focused on local art and craft, talent, music, and cuisine. It was a wonderful opportunity to sample and take away unique, handmade souvenirs, and artwork and sample local delicacies. Majority of products on show are locally crafted or made.

» Sunday August 3rd:
Bridgetown Market at Spring Garden Highway at 10am

» Sunday August 3rd:
Cohobblopot at Kensington Oval at 7pm.

The word ‘cohobblopot’ is a colloquial expression meaning ‘a stew of a variety of ingredients’ and thus the correct term for this melting pot of events wrapped up into one large stage show.

Cohobblopot is a potpourri of local cultural elements, from dance to calypso music to a display of Kadooment costumes. Dazzling and elaborate regalia, some over 20 feet high, are paraded on stage in a contest for the King and Queen of the Band.

» Sunday August 3rd:
De Big Show at Ocean Park at 7pm Sharp.

» Monday August 4th:
Grand Kadooment at The National Stadium at 9am straight down to the Spring Garden Highway.

The culmination of the Crop Over Festival, Grand Kadooment is a spectacular daytime procession of costumed revelers partying from the National Stadium to Spring Garden highway.

Each “band” (a group of masqueraders) is dressed in distinctive and elaborate costumes and gyrates to the infectious rhythms of calypso being played from monstrous sound systems on huge trucks.

Revelers prior to this day carefully select from the various bands based at either bands headquarters/houses or from special band fetes held throughout the season.

Costumes chosen come in various colors and types depicting the theme of the band and are judged on varying elements to choose eventual winners for the categories.

» Monday August 4th:
Bridgetown Market at Spring Garden Highway at 10am.

» Thursday August 7th:
Last Lap Craft Fair at Pelican Craft Village at 10am.