My Barbados Blog

The Caribbean International Film Festival will take place in Barbados April 9-13 at which "Hit For Six!" will be screened.

"Hit For Six!" is a fictional account of a West Indian cricketer who fights a match-fixing charge.

Since its establishment in 1992, the Pan African Film Festival has promoted cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression featuring quality films from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada.

Visit the "Hit For Six" website for more information - http://www.hitforsix.com/ 

Mango Bay is promoting Barbados' celebration of its culture and history at the annual Holetown Festival, Feb. 17-24.

The all-inclusive Mango Bay is offering rates now through Jan. 31 from $460; from Feb. 1 to April 30, rates are $510. All rates are per room, per night in a standard room and are based on double occupancy.

The property is within walking distance of many shops in Holetown, 25 minutes from the capital city of Bridgetown and 40 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport. Celebrated for almost three decades, this week-long festival commemorates the anniversary of Holetown, the first settlement of Barbados in 1627.

The Holetown Festival features theatrical presentations, historical talks, sporting events including a 10K run, concerts, street parades, food tastings, poetry readings, sidewalk art shows, games, local handicraft markets and the popular Queen of the Festival Pageant. Event costs vary but a majority are free of charge.

GILBERT ROWE, producer of the Barbados Jazz Festival, took Jazz On The Hill back to its roots this year with mostly a traditional jazz line-up.

Clearly, from the choice of bands, it was all about the sound of hard bop, fusion numbers, serious saxing, smooth bass sections, insane drum rhythms and piercing
steel pan.

Quintessentially jazz!

Read full article in the Nation News

And Visit the Barbados Jazz Festival site for more information 

Cool Jazz in the West Indies - on the beautiful island of Barbados - ohhhh it doesn't get much better than this . . . Linda

The 15th Annual Barbados Jazz Festival - Jan 14 - 20, 2008

Singer Erikah Badu and jazz greats Bob James and Lee Ritenour will headline the festival, along with many other entertainers.

Here's the line up for 2008, along with dates, venue and ticket prices:

Jan 14 - Sunbury Plantation House - Bob James & Terri Lyne Carrington - $40.00

Jan 15 - Heritage Park/The Rum Factory - John Patitucci & Clifton Glasgow - $35.00

Jan 16 - Heritage Park/The Rum Factory - Stefan Walcott/Andre Forde - $25.00

Jan 17 - The Crane Resort (Dinner Set) - Vanessa Rubin - $100.00

Jan 18 - Farley Hill National Park - Erykah Badu - $40.00

Jan 19 - Farley Hill National Park - Kenny Garrett, Lee Ritenour, The Almond Band - $30.00

Jan 20 - Farley Hill National Park - The Rippingstons, Cuban All Star Jazz Band, David "Ziggy" Walcott - $30.00

Travel 2 the Caribbean online agency is not handling ticket sales, however we have a few available hotels and resorts with discount pricing. For those needing complete vacation packages with air and hotel included, please contact us ASAP, as air space is limited.

Online Ticket info can be found at this site:

http://www.barbadosjazzfestival.com/tickets.html

Barbadian national pledge of allegiance - I pledge allegiance to my country Barbados and to my flag, To uphold and defend their honour, and by my living to do credit to my nation, wherever I go.

The island of Barbados is celebrating 41 years of independence on November 30.

The national flag of Barbados is comprised of three equal vertical panels - the centre panel of gold and the outer panels of ultramarine. A broken trident in black is located in the centre of the flag. Blue represents the sea and sky of Barbados, while gold represents the sand of the islands beaches. The symbol at the centre of the flag represents the Trident of the mythical sea god, Neptune - the shaft of the trident is broken symbolising Barbados' break from Britain.

Actually the independence celebrations last all month with a variety of community events, fairs and sporting events, which lead up to the national holiday on November 30.

The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts celebrates Barbadian music, dance, drama, arts and crafts, photography, and the best in each group are chosen at the conclusion of the festival.

Independence Day starts off with a big parade and ceremony at the Garrison Savannah. By nightfall the parliament buildings and businesses in the capital city of Bridgetown are all lit up with blue and gold lights, as well as all the highway roundabouts on the island. Blue and gold are the national colors of the island.

Barbados will host one of the biggest open air festivals in the Caribbean - Nova Culture Fest 2007- from Friday, November 16 to Sunday, November 18.

The festival will be sponsored by the Barbados Investment and Development Corp., and other private companies on the island.

The festival will cater to the entire family and offer local crafts such as pottery, basket weaving, wood carving, glass blowing, along with live cooking demonstrations. There will be plenty of fun for the kids with a special kids zones that will operate throughout the festival.

Saturday's schedule includes lots of activities and a farmers market, and live entertainment will be offered Saturday evening.

On Sunday a Caribbean Sunday Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Harbour Road will be closed and turned into the longest fashion runway ever seen in Barbados.

Source: Caribbean News Net

Barbados Offers Package Tied to Food Festival

Barbados will host a culinary festival entitled the "Taste of Barbados" from Oct. 11 through Oct. 14, 2007.

The festival will include food demonstrations, wine tasting, rum tours, beach barbecues, chef seminars and sugar plantation tours.

"Dining by Design," hosted by the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, is another highlight to the "Taste of Barbados" program.

This is a pairing of designers and chefs to create special dining spaces and cuisine that compliment each other.

Guests can choose the chef and designer of their choice and will receive personalized service during the event. The package cost is $500 per person, a choice of six Taste of Barbados attractions and 25%  discount off all participating attractions.

Price does not include air or hotel.

Every Caribbean island has a Carnival, and on the island of  Barbados the Celebration is "Crop Over"

Each year Barbados celebrates the end of the sugar cane season for another year with a series of events from May until the beginning of August.

This tradition was started by the African slaves to mark the end of their hard labour cutting sugar cane, and they celebrated with song and dance, not much has changed and Barbados parties long and hard with lots of events focussed on music and dancing.

Visit Totally Barbados for the 2007 Crop Over Schedule of Events

The Barbados Agriculture Society reintroduced this event in 2005 after a 30-year absence to showcase the talents of local farmers. It highlights the best of Barbadian crop and is aimed at the general public as well as those in the industry.

Read the rest of this article at Totally Barbados

Source: Totally Barbados

See previous posting on Barbados Food Imports at alarming levels

Even though the West Indies vs. the Rest of the World Cricket Match is slated for February 17th, festival organizers say it will not interfere with the Holetown Festival, which is being held from February 11 to February 18, 2007.

The organizing committee is excited about this years festival, and have planned many events throughout the festival week.

According to organizers the festival has gained significant international recognition in the last few years.

The Holetown Festival commemorates the anniversary of the first settlement of Barbados at Holetown in February 1627.

The week-long festival begins with the opening celebrations, which take place at the Holetown Monument. Local arts and crafts are highlighted, as well as Barbadian culture and history.

Some of the events include: Street parades, Tattoo Shows, the Antique Car Parade, Fashion Shows, and a Beauty Contest.

The Black UK Online posted an article on Barbados Gospelfest . . .

There are probably very few holiday destinations were committed Christians can combine warm Caribbean sunshine, good fellowship and the opportunity to attend some of the very best in praise and worship outside of the US. 

For those of you who have never heard of the internationally acclaimed Gospelfest, it is now in its 15th year and attracts thousands of Christians from all over the Caribbean, Canada, US and of course the UK. It is a truly awesome event, well organised and the quality of the ministry and performances are of the highest standard. 

Continue reading the full article at:

http://www.blackukonline.com/black/3865/online.html

And be sure to visit the Gospelfest Website for more information:
http://barbados.org/events/gospelfest/gospelfest.htm

Across the Internet - Blogging About Barbados on topics such as the high cost of airfare, World Cup Cricket visitor numbers, Barbados reporters reaction to Tobago's Jazz Festival, A visitor to the Barbados Jazz Festival who got a wake up call on AIDS in the Caribbean, and visitors who spend a day in Barbados, and want to return. Linda

The high cost of air travel between the Caribbean islands by the regional air carriers is a complaint shared by Caribbean residents, World Cup Cricket Fans, and Tourists alike.

The Barbados Free Press covers this subject, along with And Still I Rise, blogger from St Vincents & The Grenadines

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And on the subject of the "special visa" arrangement for World Cup Cricket, Adrian Loveridge commented on a posting at Barbados Free Press, and has an excellent remedy for handling visas for World Cup Travelers

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The impact of the 3rd annual Jazz Festival on the tiny island of Tobago vs. the Jazz Festival in Barbados was the subject on the Caribbean Beat blog.

Yvette Best, entertainment reporter at the Barbados Sun newspaper, wrote that "the Tobago Festival did not meet the "criteria of a Jazz Festival, but should instead have been called a "musical" festival". Then Caribbean Beat poses: "If Barbados, who has successfully staged jazz festivals for several years is worried, then you know that Tobago has made an impact".

In truth very few "jazz festivals" in the Caribbean have jazz musicians as head liners - Read New Jazz Kid on the Block at Caribbean Beat

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A Black Voices blog member attended the Barbados Jazz Festival, had a great time, but found himself enlightened by the plight of AIDS in the Caribbean while on vacation. Read Almost Paradise Aids in the Caribbean

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Travelers on AOL comment on their Barbados day vacation, and plan to be among the return visitors to the island. Barbados has the distinction of having the most return visitors in all of the Caribbean.

Just received e-mail from Barbados Hash Harriers with the following information on the 10k race  . . .

The annual Holetown Festival 10k Race will be held this year on Sunday February 18,2007 at 4:00pm.

Registration is done is done 1 hour before the start of the race and there is no entry fee.

There is no team prize but of course we welcome as many as possible please note the new start for race

Route Description

The race will start on Queen Street (the "old Speightstown road") just north of Cobblers Cove Hotel. The route proceeds northwards along Queen Street through the centre of Speightstown and Sand Street to junction of the Speightstown By-pass Road and Heywoods.

It continues south wards along the Speightstown By-pass Road , Road View, Mullins, Gibbs', Weston, Garden, Porters to the junction of Highway 1 and the Sea View (Highway 1A).

The route proceeds to the left and after 100 meters, turns right into Sunset Crest. Then after another 100 meter, it turns right, through Independence Drive (the short street between the Texaco gas station and the mall complex) to the FINISH line at the Holetown Monument .

JIM WEDDERBURN
RACE DIRECTOR
Tel. 418-0879

The annual Holetown Festival is a weeklong celebration. The festival celebrates the first English settlers who arrived in Barbados in 1627. The festival features street fairs, vendors, music performances, arts and crafts, history and a beauty pageant.

Read Bill King's (e-Jazz news) article on the Barbados Jazz Festival in Review Jan 8-14

Another article on the Barbados Jazz Festival "Unforgettable Anita in Barbados" is found over at the Jamaica Gleener.

Public profanity is against the law in Barbados, but American R&B artist Macy Gray says she did not take the warnings seriously when she performed at the Barbados Jazz Festival. Evidently her manager warned her prior to her performance, but Macy just had to use the word "mother - " at least 10 times.

One of our clients just returned from the island and attended the show. She said she was so embarrassed and could not believe Macy kept saying the words over and over again. As our client, and news reports indicate - the audience did not appreciate her performance.

Those of us in the business and frequent travelers to the Caribbean are well aware of the profanity laws - especially in relation to entertainers, and since Macy was warned beforehand she can't say she did not know the law.

Things got serious when she realized that the law was very real, and she had to meet with law enforcement backstage after her performance. She was threatened with arrest for each time she uttered profanity (which was about a dozen times) unless she apologized to the public - which she finally did.

When I saw that Macy Gray was going to be part of this years jazz festival, I knew there could possibly be trouble. Other artists such as Ja Rule, Snoop Dogg, Foxy Brown and Beenie Man have all been cited in the past for their on stage profanity in Jamaica at the Reggae Sunfest. And rapper DMX violated the profanity law while performing at the St Kitts Musical Festival. Is this really shocking to anyone that if you invited any of these artists to perform that profanity would not be a part of their performance?

All I can say about these incidents is that festival organizers should be aware of who they are inviting. Entertainers who are known to use profanity will do exactly that, and if your goal is to have a musical festival without profanity - there are plenty of entertainers who can fit that bill.

Following intermission, they joined fellow American trumpeter Terrence Blanchard and his saxophonist to offer yet more originals designed, Blanchard maintained, “to fine their own voice even if it meant breaking the rules of traditional jazz.”

Local Barbadian award-winning R&B crooner Hal Linton and fellow Barbadian steel plan player David "Ziggy" Walcott offered well-orchestrated renditions at Heritage Park/ The Rum Factory in St. Philip during the festival’s second night on Tuesday which also attracted a full house.

On Wednesday, Macy Gray and Marissa Lindsay are slated to perform at the Garfield Sobers Auditorium, while Barbadians and visitors alike brace themselves for an extended weekend line-up which includes Karen "The Lady in Red" Briggs at The Crane Resort and Residences on Thursday; Anita Baker at the Garfield Sobers Auditorium on Friday; Arturo Sandoval, Arturo Tappin and Stanley Clarke at Farley Hill National Park on Saturday, and at the same venue on Sunday, Ruben Studdard, Will Downing and Goapele.

The festival's partnership with BET J, in association with the Barbados Tourism Authority, has taken the festival's public awareness to another level. Previews of the festival have recently aired on BET J's "Island Lime" format on Saturdays as well as on BET.

In addition, a heavy advertising rotation was carried on BET J, VH1 Soul and other channels, including mainstream radio stations in Atlanta and New York.

Actress Kim Fields travels to Barbados this week to produce a full one hour program on the festival and on Barbados' sites and attractions.

Source: Caribbean Net News

Black Entertainment Network (BET) teams up with Barbados Jazz Festival for U.S. promotion.

A preview of next year's 14th annual Barbados Jazz Festival, along with highlights of last year's festival, is currently on rotation on BET J's "Island Lime" format on Saturdays.

Upcoming BET J "Island Lime" air dates are November 18 and 25, and December 2, 16, 23 and 30 (1 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

The show also airs on Wednesdays on November 15 and 22, and December 6, 20 and 27 (6 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day), while the show is slated to air on BET on November 29 at 2 a.m. and again in December. All telecast times are Eastern.

In addition to a heavy advertising rotation on BET J, VH1 Soul and other channels, including mainstream radio stations in Atlanta and New York, BET Digital Networks will produce and air a full one hour program on the festival and on Barbados' sites and attractions.

View our previous blog posting for the 2007 Barbados Jazz Festival lineup.

The annual Barbados Crop Over Festival is scheduled from July 8 to August 7, 2006.

Crop Over is the centerpiece of the Bajan culture and history. The summer carnival party goes on for 5 weeks, and this is the largest celebration held on the island.

The summer carnival is filled with parades, colorful floats, exotic costumes and masquerades, concerts, art and photography exhibits, local vendor exhibits and plenty of music, food and fun for the entire family.

Al Gilks, NCF (Natural Cultural Foundation) Chairman says that this year's Crop Over will be, "a mixture of culture and entertainment like never seen before."

Well, that sounds like Barbados is really going to "pump it up" this year! If you've been to Crop Over before, you know that's a real challenge - if you haven't been, then you better get in shape - LT

The Barbados Crop Over Festival dates back to the 1700's when Barbados was the world's largest producer of sugar.

The end of the sugar cane season was a time of celebration, and marked the end of a successful harvest - hence the name "Crop Over". 

Bajans from all over the world come home for Crop Over, as well as repeat visitors, so if you plan to go, better hurry up and get those reservations confirmed now!

This is a month long party you don't want to miss.

For more information on Crop Over, see our previous posting, and visit these other sites:

Crop Over Festival - http://www.cropoverfestival.bb/ 

Barbados.org - http://www.barbados.org/cropover.htm 

Linda
 

The Oistins Fish Festival has been held on the island of Barbados for 29 years.

This years festival got underway Saturday, April 15th, and festival officials spoke about the cultural and economic development of the island in the opening ceremony.

Hundreds of Barbadians and tourists crowded the sidewalks and made the most of the various foods, particularly fish, and other goods offered by the many vendors.

Sunday night, the festival presented a gospel extravaganza, and today the featured event is the popular dolphin skinning, fish-boning competitions and other cultural events and activities. 

By the way, the dolphin skinning does not involve the "Flipper" type dolphin for those of you who are dolphin lovers.

Festival organizers say the village of Oistins will get a new look by years end. Major development in the area is proposed to start in preparation for World Cup 2007.
 

For more information about Oistins, and the Festival, visit our agency site