Summer – Get it before it goes!
In Barbados, August is synonymous with celebration! The month starts with the celebration of
Emancipation Day on the 1st. This public holiday celebrates the emancipation of slaves in 1833, and is usually incorporated into our Crop Over festival. The climax of the festival is celebrated on the first Monday in August with the annual Grand Kadooment Day jump up. Costumed revellers take to the streets from early morning until early into nightfall to celebrate life! Divided into various bands, participants follow their respective music trucks down the closed roads to the pulsating sounds of local calypso beats. The bar truck is also in attendance fueling the revelry. The route takes the ‘jumpers’ playing mas from the Warrens/Waterford area through the National Stadium environs and down to the Spring Garden Highway for the grand culmination. It is truly and sight to behold and an experience not to be missed!
Carrying the ‘vibe’ through the month is that sweetness of having to relax from a hectic month of parties and cultural engagements. This leads to many Bajans taking annual vacation to unwind and enjoy the last month of summer with their families. Staycations, overseas travel and island tours are the order of the day for many a local. For a visitor to the island it is an excellent time to interact with the ordinary Barbadian in a very relaxed setting. Driving around the island definitely reinforces the laid back atmosphere, as the East Coast takes on new life with vacationing families and friends scattered across the beaches and houses of the Bathsheba and Cattlewash areas.
With the lower hotel rates of this time of year, you can also find many a Bajan taking the opportunity to staycation in local hotels. Living like a tourist is extended into the enjoyment of local attractions and adventures. As you drive your rental car around the countryside the sight of children playing and adults liming by the various rum shops and beaches tells you that summer life is in full effect. Beaches will also have more activity than normal at this time of year, whether on the South Coast or the West, you will find many a family taking the time to follow their watersport passions or just having a ‘sea bath’ .
Remember that the best way to enjoy Barbados is always going to be if you’re fully mobile, and for that a hired car is always going to be your most cost effective option. The true beauty of the island is found in its people and the interactions with the various communities as you circulate the island. While it is generally easy to make your way around the beaten path, include a GPS in your rental package to ensure that you can always find your way back to your home base. See you in Barbados!
