Ready, Set, Crop Over: A Comprehensive Pre-Travel Companion
When I tell you Crop Over has been a hot topic in my Instagram DMs, I mean it!
So, you want to know all about planning for Crop Over? This was the most requested information last month, and I am happy to oblige. Crop Over was the first Caribbean festival I fell in love with. I’m warning you from now, please don’t make the mistake of calling Crop Over a “carnival”. The Bajan (people from Barbados) population will get a bit testy about that, as they consider it to be what I said…a festival. The reason behind the season is just as described; it celebrates the end, a.k.a “over”, of the harvest, a.k.a. “crop”. While the parties go on for months, Grand Kadooment is the big finale to the Crop Over festivities. It’s a day where the masqueraders come out to play. Locals who choose not to jump, show their support out on the road.
Crop Over History
Fun fact, Crop Over is not new! The celebration has been in existence since the 1600’s, with a short period of disbandment after World War II. Thankfully for us, Crop Over made a huge comeback in the 1970’s and has transformed into the festival that I’ve come to adore.
As I’ve mentioned on my Barbados resource page, I have not attended in full since my trip in 2013. In the summer of 2023, while on my way to Antigua Carnival, I made a 24-hour pit stop in Barbados for a lil’ Crop Over action. Let me tell you, it was VERY hard to get on that plane afterwards, because honey, a time was had! See short video below for details LOL.
Getting to Barbados
Barbados makes it really easy for us, as they only have one main international airport, Grantley Adams International Airport. When searching for your flights use the BGI airport code.
Where to Stay for Crop Over
Whenever I’ve traveled to Barbados, I always stayed in the St. Lawrence Gap area (affectionately known as “The Gap”). Condo rentals were my go-to choices, but I have stayed at several boutique establishments, like Southern Surf Beach Apartments, and Rostrevor Hotel. St. Lawrence Gap is a convenient location as there are shops, restaurants, bars and beaches all within walking distance. Honestly, so long as you acquire accommodations in St. Michaels or Christ Church, you should be good to go. Here’s a map to help you along.
Getting Around Barbados
Back in my Crop Over days we either walked or took ZR vans to get around town for casual engagements like liming at the beach, dining, shopping, or grabbing groceries. The ZR maxi system is very convenient and user friendly, especially if you just want to get to your destination a little faster. Warning: The ZR vans can be packed tightly, so if you value your personal space and don’t care to be squished next to people you don’t know, please skip the ZR experience. Barbados also has a pretty decent bus system.
Whenever it was time to head to the fetes, we either tagged along with friends in their rentals or used a driver. Don’t ask me how we connected with the drivers back in those days, because it was literally over a decade ago LOL.
Being the free-spirited person I am, I’d probably rent a car if I ever headed back to Crop Over for a proper experience. The roads are very easy to navigate and are not as hilly or dangerous as some other countries I’ve visited. Do NOT ask me to drive in Dominica or some parts of St. Lucia. No sir! It not me and dat!
Fete/Party Recommendations
Crop Over has my heart for so many reasons, but mainly because of the music. I think I can confidently say, that Bashment Soca is my favorite genre of soca. Granted, I need an asthma pump with me because of how exhausting I’d be after a bashment segment…but it’s so worth it! The riddims, the lyrics, the movements – I love it all. And don’t get me started on the waistlines. I haven’t met a Bajan man that can’t keep up on the dancefloor yet. Listen, my soul does be rhell pleased when I fete in BIM. Since we’re on the subject of fetes. Here are some recommendations:
Bliss: An all inclusive event with just the right amount of flair. Expect fine cuisine, specialty bars, live performances and even fireworks. Wear something fashionable that’s comfortable enough to get on bad once the spirit hits. Bliss is to blame for my obsession with tempura broccoli! People like to place Bliss on a similar level as Beach House in Trinidad.
Limerz Cruise: An all inclusive, on-water experience with multiple vessels. Back in my day, all of the vessels were catamarans. In recent years, larger boats have been added to the fleet of choices. Choose your boats wisely when the time comes, and be sure to bring the energy. I will forever be #teamblackboat, or whatever boat Monstapiece decides to bless. Limerz Cruise has a great reputation as one of the most well-known, and well executed events during the Crop Over season.
Jabnival: A drinks inclusive, dutty-in-black event that is sure to make your spirit happy. The best part, you get to dive in the ocean towards the end of the event and lime with the partygoers. I attended this fete last summer, and even though I arrived far later than planned, I still managed to have an amazing time.
Lush: I attended the first Lush event back in 2012. It was lit then, and it’s still a favorite today. If you’re looking for a fete that will bring the vibes, and be filled with likeminded people who come to pelt waist, Lush might be for you. Bring your cooler, purchase local food from the vendors and exit a happy feter.
All of the other fetes I’d recommend no longer happen, but here are a few recommendations from trusted friends who have similar fete styles as me:
- Lift
- Fiya De Wukk
- Tipsy
- We Ting BIM
Foreday Morning Jam
You can’t head to Crop Over without attending Foreday Morning! If you’re no stranger to the Caribbean carnival scene, then it’s helpful to know that Foreday Morning is essentially a jouvert jam that moves throughout the roads of Bridgetown. You can be a bystander or you can register to jump with a Foreday band. Some of the popular bands are Colorz, Green Lizards, Kontact and Chocolate Army.
Grand Kadooment Bands
Grand Kadooment is only one day long, so it’s important to make the most of it and choose a band that will make your heart happy. So many new bands have launched since I’ve last jumped on the roads of Bimshire. Power x 4 and Baje International were the bands that got my money back in the day. Baje is still going strong, but Power x 4 has since dissolved (I think). Aura, Xhosa, Kontact Band Barbados, Krave the Band, and Zulu International are the bands that are hot on the lips of most masqueraders these days.
Exploring Barbados
I’ll be extremely frank, I find it completely disrespectful to visit a country for fetes and mas and not take the time out to explore and learn more about the land. That being said, here are a few things I highly recommend carving time out for while in Barbados.
Oistins is a chill, beachfront spot to consume authentic Bajan food and good vibes. Many of the food vendors in Oistins are open daily, but if you’re looking for a proper lime, attend on Friday night for their popular fish fry. There are many food huts to choose from, but I’ve been loyal to Pats Place since 2010. I wait patiently for my plate of red snapper (fried or grilled), pease and rice, cole slaw, and breadfruit. Soooo good! I also recommend ordering a batch of Bajan fish cakes from somewhere. Oistins is a really nice spot to relax and catch the sea breeze while people-watching.
Visiting the Mount Gay Distillery is a must-do activity for those new to the country. There’s nothing like getting tipsy while learning about the history of Barbados and the impact Mount Gay has had on the culture. Fun fact: Barbados is considered to be the birthplace of rum… give thanks and respect!
Quayside Centre used to be my go-to spot. Not only could I get a quality meal, but I would also be able to visit various shops for souvenirs or any toiletries I forgot to pack. Quayside is a pleasant walk from The Gap. Dining at Just Grillin’ (located in the center of the plaza) was always the highlight of each stroll. I loved their grilled shrimp platters and the garlic sauce that came with them. LAWD LAWD!
Speaking of food, another new favorite plaza is Coverly Village. I was introduced to it this past August. If you watched my Antigua Carnival 2023 vlog, you probably saw me demolishing some food in one of my morning rants. That food was from Dragon House Chinese Restaurant in Cloverly Village. It was yummy, and I washed it down with a smoothie from Raw Juice Bar (also located in the village). It was very hard to choose where I wanted to get my meal from, as there were so many great options.
Bridgetown Market is so refreshing! If you love feeling like you’ve truly touched down in a Caribbean country then add it to your itinerary. There’s so much to see and consume. Bridgetown Market is a great place to grab gifts, eat and absorb the culture.
Final Thoughts for Crop Over
Okay, I don’t know what more to tell you all! I hope this information has been helpful. Don’t hesitate to hit me up if there is something I didn’t cover. If you’re looking for a tool to help keep all this information in one spot, be sure to grab my Ultimate Digital Carnival Planner. Hit me up for a discount code! Doing so is a reward and lets me know you’ve read this blog post!
Happy Carnivaling!
P.s. The Bajan currency is BDS, and I love the 2:1 conversion rate. It’s so simple to work with if you haven’t converted your money! Okay, dassit for real!
