BARBADOS

E VENTS 2 01 6

Enjoy a taste of Caribbean culture all year round, says Annie Richardson

January 16-24 Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series

Dating back to the 19th century, this yachting extravaganza begins at the Cruising Club goes through historic Carlisle Bay and passes the deep water harbour to begin a 20-mile stretch in calm waters before skirting the coast.

13-17 Naniki Barbados Music Festival

Five amazing shows help celebrate the island’s 50th year of Independence. Artistes include Grammy award winner Roberta Flack.

30-31 Flower and Garden Show

Barbadian flora in all its glory. The event is run by the Barbados Horticultural Society and its patron is Sir Elliott Belgrave, Governor General of Barbados.

February 14-21 Holetown Festival

This is a great excuse to party Caribbean-style. The event includes a gospel concert, floodlit tattoo, street fair and a re-enactment of the landing of the first English settlers.

March 3-18 Holders Season

Internationally renowned, this arts festival takes place in the picturesque grounds of Holders, a 17th-century Barbadian plantation house. Whatever your taste, you’ll find it here, whether it’s comedy, opera, blues or jazz.

5 Sandy Lane Gold Cup (horse racing)

The whole island turns out at the Garrison Savannah racecourse to create a multicultural carnival atmosphere.

24 –April 4 GP14 World Championships

Crews from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada, Ireland and Great Britain have already signed up for this famous regatta.

26-28 Oistins Fish Festival

Held in the historic town on the south coast, this is a celebration of the contribution made to Barbados by its fishing industry. It’s also a good excuse for a street party.

April 24-May 1 Barbados Reggae Festival

This weeklong musicfest has received international acclaim. It takes place in different venues across the island and attracts world-class artistes.

28–May 1 Sir Garfield Sobers Festival of Golf

Taking place at The Country Club at Sandy Lane this is a four-day event on the beautifully sculpted course.

28–May 1 Polo in Paradise (Segway polo)

This grafts a modern twist on to a traditional sport – and you don’t even need a horse. The tournament mixes players from different teams and countries.

May 21-29 Gospelfest

The festival not only includes choirs, but dance and theatre with gospel themes.

26-29 Celtic Festival Barbados

A heady fusion of folk music and flavours, the festival honours the Celtic links between Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Nova Scotia and the Gallic regions in Europe and Barbados.

6 May to 2 August Crop Over Festival

This dates from the 1780s when it marked the end of the sugar-cane cutting season. Now it is a mix of music, masquerade, history and culture.

June 3-5 Sol Rally Barbados

The tarmac rally has around 22 special stages run on the island’s public roads. The previous Sunday’s King of the Hill shakedown features four runs. The results are used to seed the running order for the main event.

July 3-20 Sir Garfield Sobers Cricket Tournament

The bulk of competitors still come from the UK but the tournament attracts schools from Testplaying cricket countries, too. After the final, a festival game is played between the Caribbean teams and a combined UK XI.

29 Foreday Morning

This is one of the many highlights of the continuing Crop Over festival. The night-time street party comprises a parade of organised revellers covered in mud and body paint partying through the streets.

August 2 Grand Kadooment

Marking the end of the Crop Over Festival, this is a stunning visual and aural spectacle that attracts people from all over the world. There is a street carnival and parade with sound systems playing

calypso music.

18-30 Barbados Historic Rally Carnival

Motor rallying is the most popular spectator sport in Barbados and this event has been attracting crowds for more than 50 years. It takes place on Vaucluse Raceway, a natural amphitheatre with epic views of the countryside, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

November 2-6 Open Water Festival

Hundreds are expected to participate in the Swim the Bay race and 1.5km Just for Fun Swim in Carlisle Bay. Prizes include air tickets, hotel stays and restaurant

meals.

17-20 Barbados Food, Wine and Rum Festival

This is a magnet for top international chefs and guests can pick up plenty of culinary tips. Barbados has been creating some of the world’s finest rum for more than 300 years, so there is also a chance to learn how to make a perfect rum punch.

30 50th Anniversary Independence Day Parade

The full pomp and ceremony of Barbados will be on show here. The parade begins at the Garrison Savannah and ends in Independence Square.

30 Independence Day

After the establishment of the first settlement in 1627, Barbados remained a British colony for more than 300 years. Its independence on 30 November 1966 was marked by the raising of the Barbados national flag and playing the new national anthem for the very first time.

December 2-4 Run Barbados

An exciting three days for everyone, whether they are strutting their stuff for fun or for a good cause.

9-10 Classical Pops Festival

The title refers to an orchestra that plays both classical and popular music. Popstars, opera singers, and composers will be featured guests.