Join Barbados In Celebrating This Year's Crop Over: The Sweetest Summer Festival

NEW YORK, June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The palm tree lined island of Barbados has been waiting all year for their liveliest and most vibrant festival, Crop Over 2013: the Sweetest Summer Festival. Continuing through August, the festival's most popular events will kick-off on June 29^th with a gala offering authentic Barbadian cuisine and live calypso music by island favorites.

Each year, Bajans' honor the end of the sugar cane season with an exciting extravaganza of live music, traditional dancing and island heritage that originated from the over 200-year-old ritual. Today, jetsetters from around the world travel to the island to experience the culture, the calypso music and the highly anticipated dance competitions.

The island offers visitors an energetic experience of Barbados' unique culture with highlights of some of the events below:

Saturday, June 29^th

• Paying homage to the island's history of sugar producers, the Opening Gala & Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes marks the finale of the harvest season. The occasion calls for spirited music played on steel pans and vivacious dances that fill the streets. Crop Over partygoers invade Queens Park to kick-off the festival.

Friday, August 2^nd

• The most anticipated musical event of the summer fills Barbados with energy and excitement around the island. The final round of Pic-O-De-Crop features nine finalists and the defending Monarch at Kensington Oval for a one-of-a-kind rhythm inspired presentation. Traditional calypso music spreads through the outdoor arena for an unforgettable night.

Saturday, August 3^rd

• The late-night street party of Foreday Morning Jam brings out Barbados' lively spirit with a parade of revelers donning brightly colored body paint. Rum punch and pulsating music fuel the celebration which lasts throughout the night.

Monday, August 5^th

• The ultimate celebration is for the close of the festival and national holiday, known as Grand Kadooment Day. Attendees dress up in traditional sequin costumes decorated with feathers, jewels and bright accents to join the street parade. Drummers, dancers and Barbados icons make their way down Spring Garden Highway for a grand display. The culmination of Crop Over's events makes this the island's most exciting day of the year.

Particularly useful for last-minute bookings for the festival, the island is also offering the "Barbados Island Inclusive," an exciting value-added program whereby travelers receive "free spending money" based on their length of stay for use at participating attractions and restaurants while on-island. With a minimum stay of 5 nights guests will receive $150.00 per person and on stays 7 nights or longer guests will receive $200.00 per person based on a maximum of two (2) persons per room. Vouchers will be distributed to guests upon hotel check-in. The promotion must be booked by June 22, 2013, and is valid for travel through December 21, 2013. Go to VisitBarbados.org/islandinclusive or www.Bookbarbadosnow.com/island-inclusive for a list of preferred partners and participating attractions and restaurants. To book at any participating hotel partner use booking code: BII2013. Upon check-in, guests will receive the vouchers in denominations of $50.00 in Barbadian increments and will be provided a list of all   participating service providers.

This value-added promotion is the perfect reason to escape to this lush Caribbean island – offering travelers a destination rich in music, history, culture, food, and a passion for living life to its fullest. 

For more information about Crop Over or to view the updated schedule of events, please visit www.barbadoscropoverfestival.com or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1 (800) 221-9831 or www.visitbarbados.org. To reserve your accommodation in Barbados during Crop Over visit:  www.bhta.org.

About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. Rated as one of the world's sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados' Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travelers. Barbados is also the first Zagat-rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is an ideal stage for world-class events and in collaboration with American Express Publishing Corporation, Barbados has hosted its first annual Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival in November 2010. The country has also hosted numerous athletic championships, including the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via Jet Blue and American Airlines, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor's '2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards' in its Top 100 Destinations category. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, via Twitter @Barbados or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1.800.221.9831.

SOURCE Barbados Tourism Authority