Top 3 Things to do each Month in Barbados
JANUARY
Sailing Week
The Caribbean’s opening Regatta is held in Barbados every year. The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race gives crew members a chance to win their skipper’s weight in rum (you read that right) if any of the 20 records are broken. Join a boat as a guest crew or watch the ‘Around the Island’ race from North Point; a favourite lookout spot.
Polo Season
Attend a match at one of the many beautiful Polo Clubs in Barbados. Battle of the Sexes at Holders Polo Club is our favourite. Polo season runs from January to May.
National Trust Open Houses
View some of the most historic properties in Barbados as they open their doors to the public for just one day. View the properties and calendar here.
Photo by @barbadospoloclub on Instagram
FEBRUARY
Holetown Festival
The first settlers arrived in Holetown Barbados on February 17, 1627. Today the Holetown festival is celebrated every February in remembrance. This week-long celebration of culture and Bajan traditions features local street food, parades and markets.
Agrofest
Support local farmers and learn about Barbadian plants and animals at Barbados’ largest exhibition, Agrofest. Every year Agrofest attracts over 60,000 local and international patrons, it is especially fun for the kids.
Dinner with George Washington
Travel back in time and experience the food and conversions of 18thcentury Barbados at the George Washington House. Enjoy a 5-course dinner in a romantic setting accompanied by fine old-world wines in the same dining room that George Washington dined in 1751. George Washington is played by Barbadian Historian Dr Karl Watson. The 2019 dinner dates are February 11th& 25th, March 11th& 25thand April 8th. Dinner is $130 USD per person, book online here.
Photo by @TerraLuxury on Instagram
MARCH
Harbour Lights Dinner Show & Night Club
Be mesmerized at this colourful and authentic journey through time. The Harbour Lights dinner show features local characters like stilt walkers and the shaggy bear. Treat your taste buds to local dishes like macaroni pie and fresh local fish. After the dinner show stay on for the night club party where you can enjoy the free-flowing drinks. Harbour Lights is the place to be for March-Break visitors and locals alike.
Learn to Surf
Barbados is the perfect place to learn to surf. There are many awesome surf schools at surf breaks perfect for beginners. In March the swells start to pick up a bit, so you are guaranteed waves.
Hiking or Biking
A cool light breeze blows over the island all March long making it a great month for exploring the outdoors. We recommend going on a guided hike or bike tour of the untouched east coast for views unlike any other.
Photo by @harbourlightsbarbados on Instagram
APRIL
Oistins Fish Festival
The largest community festival in Barbados is held every Easter weekend at the scenic fishing village of Oistins. Enjoy the fresh fish, local street food, music, crafts and the popular fish boning and grease pole competition. Oistins fish fry is the place to be year-round on Friday evenings.
Barbados Reggae Festival
This festival has been a favourite for locals and visitors since 2005. Local, regional and international Reggae acts come together at unique venues (like the historic Farley Hill) to perform for thousands over the highly anticipated weekend. Have a look at the photos from previous years to see for yourself.
Learn to Windsurf or Kitesurf
Strong cool winds and nine hours of sunshine make April the perfect time for kite surfers or windsurfers. The conditions in Barbados are some of the best in the world and attract many kite and windsurfers from around the world.
Photo by @kitefam on Instagram
MAY
Island Safari Tour
Hop in the back of an Island Safari 4X4 for the most adventurous way to explore Barbados. The off-roading tour around the island makes many scenic stops including a Bajan lunch stop. May is the perfect month for exploring as the weather is nice and cool and it is the last month of the dry season.
Grind Sugar Cane at Morgan Lewis
Morgan Lewis Windmill is one of only two working windmills in the world today! During the crop season (February to July) the sails are added, and it runs for one Sunday each month grinding cane and creating cane juice. Throughout the week you can visit the mill museum and climb to the top of the mill or simply enjoy some treats from the café while you soak in the view.
Sir Gary Sober Golf Festival
It’s always a great time to golf at one of the five incredible golf courses in Barbados. This May the annual Sir Garry Sobers Festival of Golf will be held at Sandy Lane, Royal Westmorland and the Barbados Golf Club, some of the top courses in the Caribbean.
Photo by @islandsafari246 on Instagram
JUNE
Catamaran Cruise & Swim with Turtles
All aboard! Spend a day sailing along the west coast of Barbados making stops to swim with sea turtles or snorkel shipwrecks. June is the perfect month to be on the ocean as the water is a calm turquoise – perfect sailing conditions. Craggy Nook guests get 10% off their cruise when they book with Cool Runnings Catamaran.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Barbados is a nesting ground for the endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtles. June is a peak nesting month for these beautiful sea animals. Most of the nesting takes place along Hastings Beach, right in front of Craggy Nook Villas. Learn more on how you can help protect the sea turtles here.
Sol Rally
Motorsport enthusiasts unite! Sol Rally is the most anticipated and dynamic three days of rally driving in Barbados with drivers from all over the world! This action-packed weekend attracts crowds to the countryside roads and Bushy Park race track.
Photo by @coolrunningsbarbados on Instagram
JULY
Crop Over Festival
This festival celebrates a 200-year-old traditional that honours the end of the sugar cane season. The 6-week festival features local arts, crafts, food, and of course parties and concerts. Learn more about Crop Over by reading our blog post on ‘14 Fun Facts about The Crop Over Festival.’
Dive Fest Barbados
Discover Barbados’ underwater world. Dive Fest features something for everyone (even if you can’t swim). Highlights include: water awareness programs, scuba diving/freediving demonstrations, beach cleanups, lionfish hunting (and tasting), conservation tips and of course guided dives all over the island.
Local Farmers Markets
July is fruit season in Barbados or more importantly mango season. Locals live for mango season and chefs will often find ways to incorporate mangoes and other local seasonal fruit into their dishes. We recommend visiting local markets like Brighton Farmers Market or Cheapside Market on a Saturday morning to try some fresh local fruits and vegetables.
Photo by @brightonfarmersmarket on Instagram
AUGUST
Kadooment Day (Carnival)
The Crop Over Festival comes to a magnificent climax on the first Monday in August every year, a day called – ‘Kadooment Day’. Thousands of people parade in bands from the National Stadium to Spring Garden Highway in sequins, feathers and jewels, dancing behind music trucks and drink trucks to the sounds of soca.
Beach Bar Hoping
August can get quite hot in Barbados making beach bars the perfect place to hang out and keep cool. A number of new beach bars opened in Barbados within the last few months. Our favourites include La Cabane, Blue Pineapple, 1.11 East, JuJu’s, Nikki Beach and Tiki Bar.
Rum Tasting Tours
Sun, Fun and Rum! There are many rum tasting tours to choose from in Barbados – the island that invented rum. The Mount Gay Rum Tour is located in the heart of Bridgetown and is fun for all ages. The award-winning Foursquare Rum Distillery is located in St. Phillip. There is no charge for the self-guided tour around the distillery and a small charge for the rum tasting session. Another beautiful and historic spot for rum tasting is at St. Nicholas Abbey in St. Peter.
Photo by @trinijunglejuice_hottie on Instagram
SEPTEMBER
Sea Turtle Hatchlings
There are few things more magical than watching a hundred plus sea turtles make their journey to the sea for the first time. September is peak sea turtle hatching season. Follow the Barbados Sea Turtle Project on Facebook for hatchling release dates or to volunteer for a sea turtle watch. The Craggy Nook beach is one of the most popular nesting beaches on the island making it very likely that you will witness this miracle during your stay with us. We love our sea turtles and have named our beach floor villa ‘Hawksbill’ after this beautiful and endangered animal.
Summer Specials
September is the quietest month in Barbados, making it a great time to visit if you are not a fan of crowds. Another perk of travelling to Barbados in September is the number of summer specials. Restaurants, tours and even day spas all seem to have their best specials in September. Many restaurants will have a fixed 3-course menu for a reduced price. Champers restaurant is known for their incredible food, ocean view and summer specials and is one of our must-visit restaurants.
Harrisons Cave Tours
Keep cool in the warm month of September by exploring the stunning Harrison’s Cave. This active cave has cool natural springs and a massive stream cave system that is over 2.3 km long. The Great Hall of stalagmites and stalactites is 15 meters high and a cool 27 degrees year-round. Choose from the relaxing tram tours ($30 USD), the wet and active eco-adventure tours ($100 USD), or the breathing walk-in cave tours ($20 USD).
Photo by @traveldiariesof_kp on Instagram
OCTOBER
Food & Rum Festival
Tantalize your taste buds with the flavours of local and international chefs and mixologists. This annual festival begins with a cook-off in Oistins, a food and rum pairing event on Friday night followed by an afternoon of canapes and spirts at polo on Saturday. Saturday night is all about the fine-dining experience. Sunday is the festivals’ climax with a beach party followed by a final fine-dining experience at a local restaurant. Book your tickets to Barbados to attend the Food & Rum Festival 2019.
Explore the Animal Flower Caves
Be blown away (literally) by the unique beauty of the Animal Flower Cave. Located at the northernmost part of the island the Animal Flower Cave opens up directly onto the Atlantic Ocean. The view from the restaurant above the cave will leave you speechless. Try the food too, it features some incredible local dishes.
Lickrish Food Tours
Foodies unite! The best way to learn about a culture is to taste it. Become enlightened with interesting facts about the island while enjoying local bites on this walking tour of Bridgetown. The signature tour is from 11 am to 2 pm and is $69 USD / person and includes eight tasting bites and sips.
Photo by @romanivans on Instagram
NOVEMBER
Independence Month
Barbados celebrates its Independence Day on November 30th. Every November the island lights up buildings, roundabouts and houses in blue and yellow lights. The most spectacular nighttime site is the parliament buildings and surrounding area in Bridgetown. There are a number of cultural events to look out for including NIFCA (National Independence Festival of Arts) and the Independence Day Parade. November is also the month that Bajans eat conkies, a traditional treat made from corn flour, pumpkin, coconut and sweet potato wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed.
Beach Hopping
The weather is simply stunning in November making it one of our favourite months for beach hopping. We recommend visiting a beach on every coast as they are all very different experiences (read more here). We recommend visiting Bathsheba, Bottom Bay, Carlisle Bay and The Hastings Lagoon near Craggy Nook.
Open Water Festival
Fantastic swim conditions in November make Carlisle Bay one of the most magnificent open water swims. Every November hundreds of swimmers from around the world fly to Barbados to take part in the Open Water Festival. The 2019 festival will feature 1.5K, 5K and 10K swims.
Photo by @abovebarbados
DECEMBER
Run Barbados
“Come for the run, stay for the fun.” Run Barbados marathon weekend begins with the Family Fun Mile Run with prizes for best costumes. Things get more competitive as the 5K and 10K run kick off on Saturday. The Sunday is where it gets serious with local and international runners competing in the half marathon and full marathon. There will also be a 5K walk for charity in aid of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados. Get up and get moving in the beautiful and scenic, Bridgetown, Barbados.
Christmas Celebrations
Trade a white snowy Christmas for a white sandy one in Barbados. The Christmas spirit is alive and strong all December long. Carols play on the radio and homeowners and businesses decorate their properties with lights. Attend the annual Carols by Candlelight or Carols at The Abbey events to raise money for awesome causes like the Pediatric Ward at the QEH hospital. On Christmas morning locals and visitors gather in their ‘Sunday Best Dress’ at Queen’s Park where the sounds of Christmas tunes fill the air thanks to the Royal Barbados Police Force Band. It truly is the most magical time of the year.
Boxing Day Beach Party
Between Christmas and New Year, the island comes alive. Many return visitors, celebrities and locals head to Barbados making it the busiest (and most expensive) week on the island. On December 26ththousands of people flock to the beach for Barbados’ largest beach party and the best part is – it’s FREE! Pack a cooler with drinks, bring your floaties and enjoy!
Photo by @its.barbados on Instagram
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