With its border restrictions relaxing, Barbados has announced that its famous Crop Over Festival will return this summer after a two-year hiatus. The island’s largest annual festival, Crop Over is Barbados’ most popular, colourful, and anticipated event, attracting thousands of visitors from across the globe to celebrate Barbadian heritage, culture, music, food, and dance.

Taking place every May through August, the 300-year-old tradition of Crop Over marks the end of the sugar cane growing season and is one of the Caribbean’s most culturally significant festivals,

Crop Over culminates with Grand Kadooment, held the first Monday in August in which costumed revelers can be seen parading through the streets from morning until evening. Visitors may even catch a glimpse of one of the many celebrities known to frequent the island during this time, including Barbadian pop star Rihanna.

This year, the festival will be held in a modified fashion, stated Prime Minister Amor Mottley, to ensure safety, including “new and innovative” procedures for the staging of Grand Kadooment and ForeDay Morning.

“We are happy for this because we know that after two years of no Crop Over and no release, people are more than waiting for this opportunity,” Mottley said.

Savings

Just in time for Crop Over, Barbados has launched a new summer campaign that offers up to 55% off accommodations, attractions, car rentals and restaurants. Visitors can take advantage of diverse accommodations from luxury hotels on the beach, to charming bed-and-breakfast spots, or private villas nestled in lush gardens.

Visitors can also arrange unique experiences and visit attractions at a discount, from biking solo through hidden trails on the East coast to enjoying a fresh fish cutter at a beach bar with the whole family or swimming with the turtles

This summer there’s also lots in store for foodies, including many new restaurants, such as QP Bistro, Blush Café, Cosmo Club, Cala Roca, Local and Co., and Seashed.

For more information on the campaign (running through Aug. 31 for travel through Oct. 31) and to book, visit HERE.

Rapid test and fly

Getting to Barbados this summer just got a lot easier as rapid antigen tests (administered by a healthcare provider no more than one day prior to arrival in Barbados) are now accepted for entry into the country. Plus, there’s no quarantine period for fully vaccinated travellers with valid negative tests. COVID PCR tests taken no more than three days prior to arrival in Barbados are also on the list of approved tests for entry into the country.