Fun Barbados - Crop Over

<BODY BGCOLOR="White" TEXT="Black"> <CENTER><IMG SRC="/graphics/logo1.jpg" BORDER=0><P> <A HREF="/">Back to Fun Barbados</A><P> <FONT SIZE="-1"> <FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" SIZE="+1"><h2>CROP OVER: A NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CULTURE, MUSIC & REVELRY</h2></FONT><P></CENTER> <IMG ALIGN=RIGHT SRC="/ourisland/graphics/cropover.jpg" ALT="Crop Over Celebrations. Photo compliments Roxan Kinas"> It's <A HREF="/ourisland/culture/music.html">Ring Bang, Ruk-a-Tuk, Soca and Calypso</A> time in Barbados as the strains of the island's biggest and most colourful national festival start to peal.<P> Crop Over begins in early July and climaxes with the Grand Kadooment costume band road march on the first Monday in August. <P>This colourful national celebration is also one of the western world's oldest festivals, dating back to the 1800s when plantation workers heralded the end of the sugar crop with feasting and dancing in the plantation yards. In fact, Crop Over is thought to be the oldest celebration of the post-Colombian era. <P> In the 1800s the end of the crop-and grueling field work--was cause for celebration. It was a plantation event heralded by the arrival of the last cart of canes and punctuated by a day of dancing and frolic. As the last procession of carts made their way into the mill yard, a laborer would beat a make-shift gong, announcing the 'Crop Over'.<P> From its one-day origins, Crop Over now offers a month of cultural, historical and musical events including the calypso tents and a fiercely contended calypso monarch competition. It all culminates with Grand Kadooment, an explosion of color and excitement, with more than 25 costume bands competing for top prizes. <P> The many 'old time' elements mix with modern additions to give this festival a character unlike any other in the Caribbean. Original elements like the donkey cart parade and ceremonial delivery of the last canes remain in some form. Other elements, such as the mass-appeal calypso tents and monarch competition, evolved from humble beginnings in the 1970s when Crop Over was resurrected after a 30-year hiatus.<P> At Crop Over time virtually every form of music on the island resounds, from the old time 'Tuk' to its modern revamp, Ring Bang, along with steel pan and of course, calypso and soca. <P> Indigenous to Barbados, Tuk is a masterful fusion of British military and African rhythms involving a small band of hilariously dressed minstrels who play a trio of rhythms on a kettle drum, bass drum and penny whistle. The sequence begins with a slow waltz then glisses into a march rhythm and concludes in an almost frenetic African beat. Like the calypso, though more low-keyed, competitions in 'Tuk' and steel pan take place during Crop Over. <P> Yet calypso and soca dominate, with tents heating up from late June, and building up to the eliminations and ultimately, the Calypso Monarch finals just before Grand Kadooment. But it is not all music, for many other events are also going on, including fine art and craft exhibits, cultural events and grand shows. Here are some highlights of this year's Crop Over. The festival officially begins on Saturday, July 5 with the Decorated Cart & Float Parade and Gala Crop Over Opening. The parade moves from the Bridgetown Independence Square at 2 pm and wends its way to the National Stadium where the opening ceremony takes place. Afterwards a full slate of entertainment takes patrons into the night. <P> The July 13 Crop Over Promenade in Queen's Park will take on new elements this year including flower, fruit and vegetable competitions.<P> On July 19 and 20 the Bajan Culture Village at King George V Memorial Park becomes a 'living museum', with a host of interactive and displayed life style and culture activities from bygone Bajan days. The July 20 Junior Calypso Monarch competition comes off at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex and the 'kiddies' or Junior Kadooment takes place on July 26 at the National Stadium.<P> A major event that attracts thousands is the day-long amalgamated Pic-O-de-Crop Semi Finals and the Party Monarch Finals at East Coast Road on July 27.<P> Two nights of Folk concerts on July 29 and 30 will highlight and celebrate Emancipation.<P> Friday, August 1 launches the count down with the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals at the National Stadium. After the Finals, Fore-day Morning Jump Up begins (August 2-2am).<P> Bridgetown Market, a major Crop Over event, runs on Spring Garden Highway August 2 and 3, with the steel band competition on August 2 and the Tuk Band competition the second day.<P> The August 3 Cohobblopot, which features the King & Queen of the bands competition, along with the season's top talent, also brings thousands to the National Stadium. <P> Then Monday morning, August 4 is Grand Kadooment where upwards of 25 bands, some containing more than 1,000 members, parade for the judges at the National Stadium then take to the road for a five mile march to Spring Garden Highway where Crop Over winds down.<P> Check the National Cultural Foundation (424-0909) for a complete calendar of Crop Over events. <P><BR> </FONT> <CENTER><SMALL><EM>Copyright © 1997 Fun Barbados, All Rights Reserved.</EM><BR> <A HREF="/funbarbados/help/">Help</A> - <A HREF="/funbarbados/faq/">FAQ</A> - <A HREF="/funbarbados/">Company Info</A> - <A HREF="mailto:comments@funbarbados.com">Feedback</A></SMALL> </CENTER> </BODY>