Barbados Crop Over Festival

The Barbados Crop Over Festival, a 17th-century event, is a popular 3-month-long celebration of Barbadian music, arts, food, and culture. It marks the end of the sugar cane season and includes parties, arts and crafts markets, and street fairs. Grand Kadooment Day marks the end of Crop Over, with masquerade bands dressed in sequin costumes. Originating from the island's British and West African heritage, the festival has evolved into one of the oldest celebrations in the western hemisphere. Today, the festival includes singing, drinking, dancing, and eating competitions, with a focus on Calypso music.