The Crop Over Festival is "more than a carnival, fete for days" to distinguish it from other such carnivals. It celebrates the end of the sugar crop, once a major event for this country. The festival is about 7 weeks long and ends on the first Monday in August (now an official holiday called Kadooment Day) with a street parade of costumed bands.
Even though the official start is at the beginning of July events start in May to whip up enthusiasm and participation. There has already been a Cavalcade in Queen's Park, Soca in the City, Christ Church carnival (yesterday). Calypso Tents are already open where calypsonians perform most weekends exposing their songs to "calypso afficionados" as they prepare for the following competitions: Pic-O-De-Crop, Sweet Soca, Party Monarch, Road March, People's Monarch. Other events include a photographic competition, Cropover read-in - poetry and stories, Junior
Calypso competition for children, Kiddies Kadooment, Cohobblopot including the King and Queen of the Band competition, Fore day morning parade.
It is a busy time for thousands of people eager to party or having to work as we see an influx of visitors for all or part of the period. Airlines even put on additional flights to handle the load, hotels experience high occupancy levels and hired car companies are sold out. This period is an additional boost for our economy as we are tourism driven. It brings visitors in what was traditionally a low tourist season.
In future posts I will report on the different events.
Just an update on the weather- we are now seeing patches of rain. We need the relief from what has been one of the driest time for about ten years.
Camg
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